Memphis, TN Outdoor Lighting: Dark Sky Rules (2026)

' The chapter exempts lighting on single-family or two-family residential sites, subdivisions and planned developments under seven principal dwelling units, street and right-of-way lighting, sign lighting, public monument lighting, and seasonal lamps under 10 watts and 70 lumens. For covered sites, a lighting plan and fixture cut sheets go to the Zoning Administrator using either the Prescriptive or Performance Method. Under the Prescriptive Method, total installed lumens are capped by the Parking Space Method or Hardscape Area Method, and every luminaire must carry a Backlight, Uplight and Glare (BUG) rating no higher than its Lighting Zone allows.

Table C-2 sets the Uplight cap at zero percent light emission above 90 degrees for street or area lighting in every Lighting Zone, and parking lot fixtures specifically 'shall have no light emitted above 90 degrees' unless ornamental lighting is approved by special use permit and still meets the Table C-1 through C-3 ratings without field modification. High-intensity uses such as searchlights, aerial lasers, sports-field lighting and correctional facilities can only deviate from these caps through an administrative deviation special use permit, which requires a signed mitigation statement and a project-specific lighting curfew.

If a site with nonconforming lighting sits abandoned 30 months or more, every fixture must be brought into full compliance before the property can be used again.