Buncombe County's zoning ordinance (Sec. 78-668) sets dark-sky-style lighting standards for new commercial, industrial, public and multi-family development. Fixtures over 1,250 lumens must be full cutoff, upward-oriented lighting is prohibited, and LED color temperature is capped at 4,300 Kelvin. Single-family homes are largely exempt.
Sec. 78-668 establishes lighting standards to minimize light pollution, light trespass and glare. All permanent luminaires must be full cutoff or cutoff fixtures, and full cutoff fixtures are required wherever output exceeds 1,250 lumens. Lighting oriented upward is prohibited, as are search/laser lights and strings of lamps over 45 lumens (except seasonal decorations). The maximum LED color rating is 4,300 Kelvin. These standards apply to new commercial, industrial, public and residential development and new dusk-to-dawn utility/security lights; single-family residential lighting is exempt except for dusk-to-dawn security lights. Inside towns, the town's lighting rules apply.
Non-compliant lighting is a zoning violation; the zoning administrator may deny permits and require corrective fixtures, with existing dusk-to-dawn security lights required to conform within five years of adoption.
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See how Buncombe County's dark sky rules rules stack up against other locations.
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