Outdoor Lighting in Lexington County, SC (2026)

2 rules for unincorporated Lexington County, South Carolina.

Verified from official government sources

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

Dark Sky Rules

Lexington County requires exterior lighting to be shielded or recessed so glare does not spill into a Restrictive Development District, across a grandfathered residential property line, or onto public road traffic lanes. Sec. 24.53 also directs pole-mounted fixtures to point inward, away from the property line.

Lexington County Outdoor Lighting Glare Shielding Rule

Some Restrictions

Lexington County, SC Code of Ordinances, Appendix B Zoning Ordinance § 24.53

Any land use activity producing glare from a non-mobile source, which includes the storage of inoperable vehicles, shall be developed so that glare is not directed into a Restrictive Development District, across the protected property line of an adjacent grandfathered residential use, or into traffic lanes of public roads. Pole mounted lighting fixtures shall be located along so that the direct...

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Light Trespass & Shielding

Lexington County caps stray light from any non-mobile source, including lit vehicle storage areas, at 1.0 foot candle where it crosses into a Restrictive Development District or an adjacent grandfathered residential property line. Sec. 24.52 measures the limit at that boundary line, not at the light's source.

Lexington County Light Trespass Foot Candle Limit

Some Restrictions

Lexington County, SC Code of Ordinances, Appendix B Zoning Ordinance §§ 24.51, 24.52

Foot Candle: a unit of illumination. Technically, the illumination at all points 1 foot distant from a uniform point source of 1 candlepower....Any land use activity producing light from a non-mobile source, which includes the storage of inoperable vehicles, shall not cause illumination in excess of 1.0 foot candle when measured in a Restrictive Development District or across the protected prop...

Full ordinance details →Official source ↗

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