Outdoor Lighting in Harnett County, NC (2026)
3 rules for unincorporated Harnett County, North Carolina.
Verified from official government sources
Dark Sky Rules
Harnett County's § 153.156 bans uplighting in every zoning district unless the fixture is shielded by a roof overhang or similar structure, requires wall-pack fixtures to be full cutoff style, and caps nonresidential and multifamily lighting at 35 feet, with athletic-field and race-track lighting capped at 80 feet.
Harnett County Dark-Sky Lighting Standards
Some RestrictionsHarnett County Code of Ordinances § 153.156(A)(2)(a), (c)
(a) All wall pack fixtures shall be cutoff fixtures, as provided in the example below. ... (c) Uplighting is prohibited in all zoning districts, except in cases where the fixture is shielded by a roof overhang or similar structural shield. Upward flagpole lighting is permitted for governmental flags only and provided that the maximum lumen output is 1,300 lumens.
Light Trespass & Shielding
Harnett County requires nonresidential and major-subdivision lighting to be positioned so it does not glare onto neighboring property or spill into the public right-of-way, and every floodlight must be aimed down at least 45 degrees from vertical under § 153.156(A)(2).
Harnett County Light Trespass Standards
Some RestrictionsHarnett County Code of Ordinances § 153.156(A)(2)
(2) General standards. Lighting shall be located in such a manner as to prevent direct glare and lighting onto adjacent property or into the public right(s)-of-way. All flood lights shall be installed such that the fixture shall be aimed down at least 45 degrees from vertical.
Billboard Lighting
Harnett County exempts billboard lighting from the general outdoor lighting standards of § 153.156 but regulates it directly under § 153.159(I)(4): display lighting must be shielded away from nearby homes and roadway traffic, and no rotating, flashing, or intermittent lighting devices are allowed on an outdoor advertising sign.
Harnett County Billboard Lighting Rules
Some RestrictionsHarnett County Code of Ordinances § 153.159(I)(4)
(4) Lighting. Display lighting of signs shall be shielded so as to prevent the direction of such light into any structure used primarily for residential purposes and into vehicles traveling on nearby roadways. No rotating, revolving, flashing, or intermittent lighting devices shall be attached to or made a part of any outdoor advertising sign.
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