Outdoor Lighting in Lynchburg, VA (2026)
3 verified outdoor lighting rules for Lynchburg, Virginia, sourced directly from the municipal code and official government pages.
Verified from official government sources
Dark Sky Rules
Lynchburg requires nearly all new exterior lighting on non-residential and multi-household properties to use full cut-off fixtures with the light source completely shielded, and to be installed so no direct light crosses a residential property line, under Zoning Ordinance Sec. 35.2-65.3(a).
Lynchburg Full Cut-Off Lighting Mandate
Some RestrictionsLynchburg City Code § 35.2-65.3(a)
(a)Shielding Required. All exterior lighting shall be full cut-off fixtures with the light source fully shielded, with the exception of unshielded luminaires installed pursuant to paragraph (c) of this section. All other lighting shall be installed so that the direct lighting from fixtures is shielded from crossing any residential property line.
Light Trespass & Shielding
Lynchburg caps spillover lighting at any residential property line at 0.5 footcandles, measured both horizontally and vertically at the line itself, under Zoning Ordinance Sec. 35.2-65.3(b), and requires site plans for qualifying commercial and multi-household projects to document compliance through a point-by-point lighting analysis.
Lynchburg Light Trespass Limit: 0.5 Footcandles
Some RestrictionsLynchburg City Code § 35.2-65.3(b)
(b)Maximum Spillover Lighting. Outdoor lighting shall not cause spillover lighting at any residential property line exceeding 0.5 footcandles measured horizontally and vertically at the property line.
Billboard Lighting
Lynchburg requires every lit billboard to use enclosed, shaded, or indirect fixtures so they do not interfere with drivers' or neighbors' vision, limits illumination to white light only, and bans flashing or motion-simulating displays such as video or animation, under Sec. 35.2-64.16(h).
Lynchburg Billboard Lighting Standards
Some RestrictionsLynchburg City Code § 35.2-64.16(h)
(h)When any billboard is lighted, such lights shall be enclosed in the sign, shaded or indirect, so that they will in no way interfere with the vision of motorists or with neighboring residents. Only white illumination shall be used, and no flashing (on-and-off) sign, nor any sign simulating movement (which includes video and animation), shall be permitted. No fluorescent paint or other highly ...