Cherokee County, GA Outdoor Lighting: Dark Sky Rules (2026)
Key Facts
- Parking lot fixtures
- Full cutoff type, 35-ft max height
- Security lighting
- Must be full cutoff type
- Curfew for commercial lighting
- Off by 11:00 p.m.
- Enforcing office
- Community development director
- Nonconforming grace period
- 5 years from triggering permit
Summary
Cherokee County's outdoor lighting ordinance requires full cutoff, shielded luminaires in parking lots, outdoor recreation facilities, construction yards and security lighting, capping fixture height at 35 feet in parking areas. Article 25 states its purpose is to reduce sky glow and glare and to preserve views of the starry sky. The community development director reviews photometric plans before issuing lighting, building or electrical permits.
A.Parking areas.1.All luminaires shall be the full cutoff type, except for large areas, such as those used primarily for the parking of trucks or buses, where luminaire supports inside the areas would restrict the function or compromise safety. Shielded floodlights shall be used for these areas. The height of the luminaires shall be not greater than 35 feet, except for large areas in outdoor recreational facilities.
Official source re-checked September 7, 2026: no newer edition of the code had been published (publisher’s edition: Code of Ordinances: Supplement 39 | Zoning: Supplement 35).
Full Breakdown
Article 25 of the Cherokee County Zoning Ordinance, the Outdoor Lighting and Road Glare ordinance adopted by Ord. No. 2001-009, sets shielding standards by land use. 6(A)(1) requires that luminaires in parking areas be the full cutoff type, limits fixture height to 35 feet, and calls for shielded floodlights on large truck or bus lots where in-lot supports would be unsafe. The same restrictions section extends full cutoff fixtures to outdoor recreational facilities, construction and storage yards, and roadway lighting outside residential areas (Sec. C-F).
(or one hour after use ends, if later). 5 requires mercury vapor, fluorescent and metal halide lamps to be filtered against ultraviolet light. 7 separately bans beacons, search lights, laser lights and strings of lights within 150 feet of a roadway, regardless of shielding. Anyone pulling a building, electrical, subdivision or land development permit for outdoor lighting must submit a site plan, manufacturer's photometric cut sheets, mounting heights and aiming angles to the community development director under Sec. 9 before the permit issues. Existing nonconforming fixtures must be brought into compliance within five years of a triggering permit under Sec.
13. The zoning board of appeals can grant variances under Sec. 12 if an applicant shows the alternative design still limits sky glow, glare and light trespass.
Violations & Fines
Installing, altering or operating an outdoor luminaire that violates Article 25 is unlawful under Sec. 25.15. The county can order corrective action for fixtures that become nonconforming through damage or neglect, and can order modification of any luminaire found to be a hazard or gross nuisance, particularly one causing glare to drivers. Noncompliant lighting also blocks issuance of the underlying building, electrical or development permit under Sec. 25.9(C).
Frequently Asked Questions
Does Cherokee County require shielded outdoor lights?
How tall can a parking lot light pole be?
When must commercial security lighting turn off?
Sources & Official References
Other rules in Cherokee County
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