Outdoor Lighting in Raleigh, NC (2026)
2 verified outdoor lighting rules for Raleigh, North Carolina, sourced directly from the municipal code and official government pages.
Verified from official government sources
Dark Sky Rules
Raleigh's Unified Development Ordinance requires every outdoor light fixture to be aimed, shielded and located so illumination stays on the building facade and site features instead of spilling onto neighboring lots or the street. Wall pack fixtures must be full cutoff. Upward-facing lighting is allowed only for accenting architecture, landscaping or art, and only if shielded to minimize light spill into the night sky.
Raleigh Outdoor Lighting Shielding & Night-Sky Rules
Some RestrictionsRaleigh Unified Development Ordinance § 7.4.10
Sec. 7.4.10. Building and Security Lighting Lighting fixtures shall be selected, located, aimed and shielded so that direct illumination is focused exclusively on the building facade, plantings and other intended site features and away from adjoining properties and the street right-of-way. All wall pack fixtures must be full cutoff fixtures. Only lighting used to accent architectural features, ...
Light Trespass & Shielding
Raleigh caps how much light can spill off a property under UDO Sec. 7.4.4: no outdoor fixture may exceed 0.5 maintained footcandles at a Residential District's property line or 2.0 footcandles at a street right-of-way, and no fixture may be oriented to direct glare onto adjacent properties, streets or sidewalks. Freestanding fixtures must run on underground service connections.
Raleigh Outdoor Light Pollution Footcandle Limits
Some RestrictionsRaleigh Unified Development Ordinance § 7.4.4
Sec. 7.4.4. Design and Installation Requirements All light fixtures shall meet the following requirements: The maximum light level of any light fixture cannot exceed 0.5 footcandles measured at the property line of any Residential District and 2.0 footcandles measured at the right-of-way line of a street. Lighting must not be oriented so as to direct glare or excessive illumination onto adjacen...
Looking for Wake County county-wide rules?
County ordinances apply to unincorporated areas and may supplement Raleigh city rules.
Outdoor Lighting in Wake County →