Outdoor Lighting in Hanover County, VA (2026)

2 rules for unincorporated Hanover County, Virginia.

Verified from official government sources

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

Dark Sky Rules

Hanover County's Zoning Ordinance requires downward-directional full cutoff fixtures for nearly all commercial and industrial outdoor lighting, and caps light spilling onto a neighboring property at half a foot-candle above background levels. Light sources must be shielded from view of adjoining residential districts and public rights-of-way, keeping glare off nearby homes and roads.

Hanover County Outdoor Lighting Shielding Rules

Some Restrictions

Hanover County Code § 26-269

1.Downward directional full cutoff lighting shall be used for all free-standing or building mounted lights on site.2.Light intensity shall not exceed 0.5 foot-candles above background levels, measured at ground level at any property line; provided, that light levels at property lines that are immediately adjacent to business or industrial zoned property shall be exempt from this requirement. .....

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Light Trespass & Shielding

Hanover County's Zoning Ordinance limits light trespass from recreational and sports facility lighting onto neighboring land. New sports lighting cannot exceed three-quarters of a foot-candle measured ten feet beyond an adjacent non-residential property line, and half a foot-candle ten feet beyond an adjacent residential or agricultural property line.

Hanover County Light Trespass Limits

Some Restrictions

Hanover County Code § 26-271(b)(2)

(2)Light trespass. Recreational and sports facilities lighting shall be installed so as to limit off-site spill to the extent possible consistent with the illumination constraints of the design, and shall be subject to the provisions of Section 26-269 except in the following instances:a.For recreational or sports facilities without lights which are in existence at the time of the adoption of th...

Full ordinance details →Official source ↗

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