Durham's UDO caps outdoor light-fixture height and spillover. Fixtures near homes are limited to 15 feet above grade within 50 feet of a residential property line, or 30 feet if farther, and illumination at a residential property line may not exceed 0.5 foot-candles.
Durham's joint City-County Unified Development Ordinance sets outdoor-lighting standards in Section 7.4 that apply in the City and unincorporated Durham County. To limit glare and sky glow, mounting height is capped at 30 feet above grade if a fixture is located at least 50 feet from a residential property line, and 15 feet above grade if within 50 feet of a residential property line. Spillover is controlled at lot lines: the maximum illumination at the edge of the property line adjacent to a residential zoning district shall be 0.5 foot-candles. The UDO also requires lighting to be oriented so it does not direct glare or excessive illumination onto streets and adjacent residences. These are zoning standards enforced through site plans
Fixtures exceeding the height caps, exceeding the 0.5 foot-candle residential-line limit, or throwing glare onto neighbors violate UDO Sec. 7.4. Durham City-County Planning can require shielding, re-aiming, lowering, or replacement of the lighting.
Other ordinances people look up for this city. Green dot = verified primary-source excerpt.
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