Dunwoody, GA Outdoor Lighting: Dark Sky Rules (2026)

Section 27-246 states the division's purpose is to curtail and reverse degradation of the nighttime visual environment, preserve the dark night sky for astronomy, and minimize glare, obtrusive light, and artificial sky glow from misdirected or excessive outdoor lighting. The operative standard is in section 27-250(b): outdoor lighting fixtures must be full cutoff, placed so no light escapes above the horizontal at the luminaire, and located, aimed, or shielded to minimize glare and stray light crossing lot lines or spilling into the public right-of-way. Color temperature cannot exceed 3,000K at the source, except at outdoor sports and performance areas.

The rules apply to new land uses and buildings requiring a permit, to any expansion adding 25 percent or more dwelling units, parking, or floor area, and whenever 60 percent or more of a site's permitted lumens are modified or replaced. 5 next to commercial or industrial use. Section 27-248 separately bans aerial lasers, searchlight-style lights, sources exceeding 200,000 lumens or 2,000,000 candelas, mercury vapor lamps, low-sodium vapor lamps, and exposed neon. curfew except to finish a delayed event, and light poles for those fields must sit at least 60 feet from any residential property line.