Mount Pleasant, SC Outdoor Lighting: Dark Sky Rules (2026)
Key Facts
- Governing section
- § 156.976(A)-(B); Table 156.976-3
- Max uplight rating
- U0 (zero), all zones
- No BUG rating fixtures
- Must be fully shielded
- Color temperature cap
- 3,500 Kelvin (§ 156.970)
- Freestanding fixture height cap
- 18 ft (§ 156.971)
- Penalty
- Up to $500 fine / 30 days jail
Summary
The Town of Mount Pleasant bars nearly all upward-directed outdoor light. Town Code § 156.976 assigns every outdoor luminaire a Backlight-Uplight-Glare (BUG) rating, and Table 156.976-3 sets the maximum uplight rating at U0, zero, for every fixture across both of the town's lighting zones, a full cutoff-style standard meant to cut skyglow.
(A) Backlight, uplight, and glare (BUG) ratings. (1) Generally. The three components of BUG ratings are based on the Illuminating Engineering Society’s Technical Memorandum: Luminaire Classification System for Outdoor Luminaires. Each component is assigned a value between zero and five, with lower numbers indicating a luminaire emits less light in a given direction. A zero value means the luminaire emits no light in the given direction. ... (3) Uplight. Uplight contributes to skyglow. ... Lighting Zone (LZ) LZ 1 LZ 2 ... Uplight Rating (max.) All luminaires U0 U0
Full Breakdown
965 states that Chapter 156's exterior lighting subchapter exists to eliminate glare and minimize light trespass and sky glow. 976-3 sets the maximum allowable uplight rating at U0 for 'all luminaires' in both Lighting Zone 1, covering residential and neighborhood-commercial areas, and Lighting Zone 2, covering commercial corridors and industrial uses, meaning no fixture anywhere in town may be rated to emit measurable upward light. 976(B)(3) backs this with a fallback: any luminaire lacking a BUG rating must be fully shielded. 971 limits freestanding fixtures to 18 feet in height. 966(C). The Planning, Land Use and Neighborhoods Department administers these standards, adopted in the town's 1-14-2025 zoning rewrite.
Violations & Fines
Installing or operating a fixture rated above U0 for uplight, or an unshielded fixture lacking a BUG rating, violates § 156.976 and is enforced as a Chapter 156 zoning violation under §§ 156.1576-156.1577: a misdemeanor with a fine of not more than $500 and/or imprisonment for not more than 30 days, each day a separate offense. The Zoning Administrator issues written notice with a minimum 15-business-day cure period before further enforcement.
Frequently Asked Questions
Does Mount Pleasant allow any upward-facing outdoor lighting?
What happens if my light fixture has no BUG rating?
Are house lights covered by this dark-sky rule?
Sources & Official References
Other rules in Mount Pleasant
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Dark Sky Rules in Nearby Cities
How other cities in Charleston County handle dark sky rules.