Cary, NC Outdoor Lighting: Dark Sky Rules (2026)
Key Facts
- Non-cutoff fixtures
- 18 ft max height
- Cutoff fixtures
- 35 ft max height
- On raised foundations
- 37 ft max height
- Single-family homes
- exempt from Section 7.9
Summary
Cary's Land Development Ordinance limits outdoor light poles to 18 feet for non-cutoff fixtures and 35-37 feet for shielded cutoff fixtures, reviewed at development-plan approval; single-family homes in the Wake County town are exempt.
(A) Maximum Lighting Height Outdoor lighting shall be designed, located and mounted at heights no greater than: (1) Eighteen (18) feet above grade for non-cut-off lights; (2) Thirty-five (35) feet above grade for cut-off lights, unless a raised foundation is required to protect the poles, in which case the maximum height shall not exceed thirty-seven (37) feet above grade.
Official source re-checked September 7, 2026: no newer edition of the code had been published (publisher’s edition: 2023 S-87_S-57: Current through local ordinance 2022-Code-05, passed 11-17-2022 and effective 11-17-2022 | LDO: Current through local ordinance 2022-LDO-04, passed 11-17-22 and effective 11-17-22).
Full Breakdown
The Town of Cary's Land Development Ordinance caps outdoor light-fixture mounting height by shielding type: non-cutoff (unshielded) fixtures max out at 18 feet above grade, while cutoff (shielded) fixtures can reach 35 feet, or 37 feet where a raised foundation protects the pole. LDO § 7.9 (Exterior Lighting) applies during development-plan review for most commercial, institutional, and multi-family projects in Wake County's Cary, but single-unit-attached and single-unit-detached housing is expressly exempt from the entire section, so most subdivisions never see it.
Violations & Fines
Development plans exceeding the 18-foot non-cutoff or 35/37-foot cutoff height limits are not approved by the Planning Director; noncompliant fixtures must be redesigned before permitting.
Frequently Asked Questions
Does Cary require dark-sky-friendly cutoff light fixtures?
Do single-family homes follow Cary's outdoor lighting height rules?
Sources & Official References
Other rules in Cary
Compare Cary to another location·View the North Carolina outdoor lighting overview
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Dark Sky Rules in Nearby Cities
How other cities in Wake County handle dark sky rules.