Outdoor Lighting in Cabarrus County, NC (2026)
2 rules for unincorporated Cabarrus County, North Carolina.
Verified from official government sources
Dark Sky Rules
New commercial development in unincorporated Cabarrus County must use full cut-off light fixtures aimed downward or at the building face, and wall pack lighting is banned outright. Freestanding and parking lot fixtures also carry mounted-height caps tied to shielding.
Cabarrus County Outdoor Lighting Shielding Rules
Some RestrictionsCabarrus County Development Ordinance, Appendix B (Commercial Design Standards, Lighting)
All light fixtures (freestanding, flood, or any other form of light fixture) shall be provided with full cut-off fixtures, visors, or any other suitable directional control to direct light either downward or directly on the appropriate building. (Wall pack lighting is not permitted) ... Freestanding light fixtures along all public street systems and internal street systems shall not exceed nine...
Light Trespass & Shielding
Cabarrus County caps how much outdoor light can cross onto neighboring land: 1.5 foot-candles at the property line for cutoff fixtures, 0.4 for non-cutoff fixtures, and no fixture may throw glare or spillover onto residential property or streets.
Cabarrus County Light Trespass Limits
Some RestrictionsCabarrus County Development Ordinance, Appendix D (Outdoor Lighting Standards)
Outdoor lighting shall be designed, located, and mounted at heights no greater than eighteen (18) feet above grade for non-cutoff lights, or thirty five (35) feet above grade for cutoff lights; and located a minimum of 15 feet from property lines. All outdoor lighting shall be designed and located such that the maximum illumination shall not exceed 1.5 maintained horizontal foot-candles (FC) at...
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