Chattanooga's zoning code requires all outdoor luminaires to be full cutoff design, caps permitted lighting color temperature at 3200K, and bans searchlights, laser lights, and neon or LED outlining of buildings, cutting glare and skyglow.
Chattanooga zoning Sec. 38-47 sets exterior lighting controls that function as dark-sky standards. All luminaires must be full cutoff luminaire design, directing light down rather than up into the sky. Freestanding fixtures are capped at 20 feet in nonresidential zones and 15 feet in residential zones. Developments that must submit a lighting plan are also limited to public lighting sources with a correlated color temperature (CCT) at or below 3200K (excluding outdoor recreation fields). The code prohibits flickering or flashing lights, searchlights and laser source lights, and using neon or LED lighting to outline doors, windows, or building facades. Temporary holiday and seasonal lighting is exempt. Unincorporated Hamilton County parcels follow the RPA county zoning resolution.
Non-compliant lighting is a zoning violation; the Land Development Office may withhold approvals and require fixtures to be shielded, lowered, or replaced, with city court penalties.
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See how Chattanooga's dark sky rules rules stack up against other locations.
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