Outdoor lighting in Apex is governed by Sec. 8.6 (Exterior Lighting) of the Apex Unified Development Ordinance (UDO), administered by the Town of Apex Planning Department. Sec. 8.6.4(D) limits maximum spillover light measured in initial foot-candles at the property line to 0.3 onto adjacent residential sites and 1.0 onto adjacent non-residential sites and public rights-of-way. All fixtures shall be fully shielded full-cutoff type fixtures with a concealed lamp/light source. Sec. 8.6.3(B) caps correlated color temperature (CCT) at 3,500 Kelvins (athletic field lighting exempt). Sec. 8.6.4(A) caps mounting height at 35 feet above grade for full-cutoff fixtures. Sec. 8.6.4(B)(1) requires fixtures be located at least 10 feet from any property or right-of-way line. Sec. 8.6.4(E) caps pole-mounted lamp output at 15,500 lumens; building-mounted lights at 2,500 lumens. Sec. 8.6.4(F)(5) prohibits flashing, moving, rotating, scintillating, blinking, flickering, or intermittent lighting and continuous roofline/edge tube/string lighting. North Carolina has no state dark-sky statute, and Apex is not listed on DarkSky International's roster of certified dark-sky communities; the nearest International Dark Sky Park is Mayland Earth to Sky Park (Yancey County, 2014 designation).
The Town of Apex Unified Development Ordinance (UDO) Sec. 8.6 Exterior Lighting is administered by the Apex Planning Department and reviewed during site plan submission. Sec. 8.6.1 Purpose and Intent: to heighten nighttime safety while minimizing light trespass, curtailing light pollution, and protecting wildlife and habitat. Sec. 8.6.2 Lighting Plan requires submission of fixture specifications (type, BUG rating, lamp lumens, CCT in Kelvins), an isofootcandle plan or point photometric grid (point photometric required for Minor/Major Site Plans with more than two light poles), cross-sections of all lighted perimeter areas immediately adjacent to existing residential properties, and plan certification by a licensed lighting professional (PE, LC, or CLEP). Sec. 8.6.3(A) sets initial foot-candle averages by use - Multi-family residential parking 4.0 fc avg (uniformity ratio 8:1); Retail 4.0 (4:1); Office 2.0 (4:1); Vital locations (entries, ATMs) 5.0 (4:1); Sidewalks 1.0 (4:1); Storage yards 4.0; Loading docks 15.0; Auto sales/enclosed outdoor display 10.0; General recreational areas 10.0. Sec. 8.6.3(B): CCT shall not exceed 3,500 Kelvins (athletic-field lighting exempt). Sec. 8.6.4(A): mounting height ≤ 35 ft for full-cutoff fixtures. Sec. 8.6.4(B): fixtures must be ≥ 10 ft from any property or right-of-way line; poles must be at least 20 ft from any large-tree trunk and 10 ft from any small-tree trunk. Sec. 8.6.4(C): fixtures must be finished in black, dark brown, or architectural bronze (white or bright colors prohibited). Sec. 8.6.4(D): max property-line illumination 0.3 fc onto residential / 1.0 fc onto non-residential and rights-of-way; all fixtures shall be fully shielded full-cutoff with concealed lamp source. Sec. 8.6.4(D)(3) BUG (Backlight/Uplight/Glare per IES TM-15-07): max B-rating 3 within 20 ft of right-of-way / 2 within 20 ft of a residential use or vacant residential property; max U-rating 0 (full cutoff); max G-rating 1 within 20 ft of right-of-way / 0 within 20 ft of a residential use. Sec. 8.6.4(E): pole-mounted lamps ≤ 15,500 lumens. Sec. 8.6.4(F): building-mounted wall-pack and goose-neck fixtures must be fully shielded full cutoff, directed downward, with lamps ≤ 2,500 lumens (industrial loading docks may use up to 15,500 lumens). Sec. 8.6.4(F)(5) prohibits flashing, moving, revolving, scintillating, blinking, flickering, intermittent lighting and tube/string lighting along rooflines/building edges. Sec. 8.6.4(G) prohibits floodlights unless the Planning Director gives special permission. Sec. 8.6.4(H) caps service-station canopy lighting at no more than two 11,000-lumen recessed fixtures per pump island and 12 fc max / 25 fc avg under the canopy. Sec. 8.6.4(I) caps sports-field fixtures at 80 ft mounting height. North Carolina has no statewide dark-sky law, and Apex is not on DarkSky International's roster of certified communities; the nearest International Dark Sky Park is Mayland Earth to Sky Park & Bare Dark Sky Observatory in Yancey County (IDA designated 2014).
Non-conformance is enforced during site-plan and building-permit review by the Town of Apex Planning Department; after certificate of occupancy, violations may be cited by Apex Code Enforcement (Apex Town Hall 919-249-3400) under the UDO. Common violations: spillover exceeding 0.3 fc onto residential property lines, non-full-cutoff fixtures, CCT exceeding 3,500 K (excluding athletic fields), pole heights over 35 ft, white or bright-colored fixtures, prohibited flashing/blinking/string lighting along rooflines, floodlights without Planning Director approval, and building-mounted fixtures with lamps exceeding 2,500 lumens (outside designated industrial loading docks). Single-family residential exterior lighting is not subject to the engineered foot-candle limits in Sec. 8.6 (which apply to commercial, multi-family, mixed-use, and institutional uses) but remains subject to general nuisance review by Code Enforcement.
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