Outdoor Lighting in Rutherford County, TN (2026)
3 county-level rules, plus city-specific rules for 1 city in Rutherford County, Tennessee.
Verified from official government sources
Dark Sky Rules
Rutherford County has no formal dark-sky ordinance, but its zoning performance standards require all site lighting to be shielded so that substantially all directly emitted light falls within the property line of the lot emitting the light.
Outdoor Lighting Rules in Rutherford County, TN
Some RestrictionsRutherford County Zoning Ordinance § 1106 B.7
All site lighting shall be shielded so that substantially all directly emitted light falls within the property line of the lot emitting the light. No illumination shall produce direct, incident or reflected light that interferes with the safe operation of motor vehicles on public streets.
Light Trespass & Shielding
The Rutherford County Zoning Ordinance defines light trespass as light from an outdoor luminaire that shines beyond the property at a brightness exceeding 0.1 foot-candles at the property line, and its glare standards cap illumination at 0.5 foot-candles at a residential boundary.
Light Trespass in Rutherford County, TN
Some RestrictionsRutherford County Zoning Ordinance, Article II (Definitions)
Light Trespass: Any light emitted by an outdoor luminaire that shines directly beyond the property on which the luminaire is installed, or indirectly shines beyond the property on which the luminaire is installed at a brightness (luminance) that exceeds 0.1 foot-candles at the property line.
Billboard Lighting
Off-premise billboards along I-24 in unincorporated Rutherford County must use external lighting only, with no internal illumination, under Zoning Ordinance Section 1205 B.3.i.v. The same subsection caps billboards at 775 square feet and 35 feet tall, limits them to one sign face per direction, and bars them within 200 feet of any residential zoning district.
Billboard Lighting Rules in Rutherford County, TN
Some RestrictionsRutherford County Zoning Ordinance § 1205 B.3.i.v
i. Billboards (off-premise signs) i. Number – 1 sign face allowed per direction ii. Sign Area – Shall not exceed 775 square feet iii. Height – Sign and sign structure shall not exceed 35 feet iv. Setbacks – 15 feet minimum from interstate R.O.W.; 200 feet maximum from interstate R.O.W.; 10 feet minimum from side or rear property line v. Illumination – External lighting only vi. Location –...
Outdoor Lighting by City in Rutherford County
1 cities in Rutherford County have their own outdoor lighting rules. Each link goes to that city's dedicated page with code citations.
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