Outdoor Lighting in Cherokee County, GA (2026)

2 rules for unincorporated Cherokee County, Georgia.

Verified from official government sources

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

Dark Sky Rules

Cherokee County's outdoor lighting ordinance requires full cutoff, shielded luminaires in parking lots, outdoor recreation facilities, construction yards and security lighting, capping fixture height at 35 feet in parking areas. Article 25 states its purpose is to reduce sky glow and glare and to preserve views of the starry sky. The community development director reviews photometric plans before issuing lighting, building or electrical permits.

Cherokee County Full Cutoff Lighting Rule

Some Restrictions

Cherokee County Zoning Ordinance § 25.6(A)(1)

A.Parking areas.1.All luminaires shall be the full cutoff type, except for large areas, such as those used primarily for the parking of trucks or buses, where luminaire supports inside the areas would restrict the function or compromise safety. Shielded floodlights shall be used for these areas. The height of the luminaires shall be not greater than 35 feet, except for large areas in outdoor re...

Full ordinance details →Official source ↗

Light Trespass & Shielding

Cherokee County's Zoning Ordinance caps how much light can cross onto a neighbor's land: no more than 0.1 footcandle at three feet high along a residential or nature-preserve property line, and 0.5 footcandle elsewhere. Directional fixtures like floodlights must be aimed and shielded so their beam center stays within 62 degrees of straight down.

Cherokee County Light Trespass Property Line Limits

Some Restrictions

Cherokee County Zoning Ordinance § 25.3

A.All luminaires, except street lighting and those used on one-or two-family dwellings, shall be located, designed, fitted, aimed, shielded, installed, and maintained to limit illumination only to the target and to minimize light trespass. The designed illuminance for pavement or ground shall be provided by a luminaire installed closer than four times the luminaire height. Directional luminaire...

Full ordinance details →Official source ↗

All Cherokee County ordinances

See every category we cover for Cherokee County: parking, noise, fences, fires, animals, pools, and more.

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