Outdoor Lighting in Catawba County, NC (2026)

2 rules for unincorporated Catawba County, North Carolina.

Verified from official government sources

Note: These county rules apply to unincorporated areas of Catawba County. If you live within an incorporated city, that city's own rules apply: see the city list below.

Dark Sky Rules

Catawba County requires every outdoor light fixture on new nonresidential and multifamily development to be shielded. Sec. 44-522 mandates 'semi-cutoff or full-cutoff fixtures only,' bans unshielded illumination of buildings and landscaping to stop light spillage, and outlaws vertical burn lamps, flashing or colored lighting, laser and searchlight advertising, and neon or black lights except for signage.

Catawba County Outdoor Lighting Shielding Standards

Some Restrictions

Catawba County Code § 44-522

Purpose: This section provides requirements for development to control light spillage and glare so as not to adversely affect motorists, pedestrians, and owners of adjacent properties.(a)Generally.(1)Subsection (b), (c) and (d) below apply to nonresidential and multifamily development. Subsection (e) below applies to new single-family residential subdivision development only.(2)All fixtures mus...

Full ordinance details →Official source ↗

Light Trespass & Shielding

Catawba County keeps outdoor lighting off neighboring land two ways. Sec. 44-522(a)(3) bars any nonresidential or multifamily light fixture from sitting within 20 feet of a residentially zoned property line, and subsection (b)(1) bans floodlights or pole-mounted lights that wash across a building or site unless they are an integral, plan-approved architectural element. Sign lighting must be shielded from passing motorists too.

Catawba County Light Trespass Onto Neighboring Land

Some Restrictions

Catawba County Code § 44-522(a)(3), (b)(1)

Purpose: This section provides requirements for development to control light spillage and glare so as not to adversely affect motorists, pedestrians, and owners of adjacent properties.(a)Generally.(1)Subsection (b), (c) and (d) below apply to nonresidential and multifamily development. Subsection (e) below applies to new single-family residential subdivision development only.(3)No fixture for n...

Full ordinance details →Official source ↗

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