Nashville, TN Outdoor Lighting: Dark Sky Rules (2026)
Key Facts
- Full cutoff mandate
- All regulated fixtures must be full cutoff
- Dark-sky alternative
- IDA June 2011 model lighting ordinance allowed
- Uplighting
- Banned except for flags or symbols
- Residential exemption
- Most rules skip single-family and duplex lots
- Jurisdiction
- Metro zoning only, not six satellite cities
Summary
Metro Nashville requires full cutoff outdoor light fixtures and lets commercial developers meet International Dark-Sky Association model lighting standards instead of the code's own foot-candle and lumen caps.
As an alternative to compliance with the foregoing provisions of this section, an applicant may choose to comply with The International Dark Sky Association (IDA) model legislation of June 2011 (located at https://www.darksky.org/wp-content/uploads/bsk-pdf-manager/16_MLO_FINAL_JUNE2011.PDF.) except no special permit referenced in section VI.B of the model legislation shall be required. For special uses outlined in section VI.B of the model legislation that cannot comply with the technical requirements, a letter from an engineer licensed with the State of Tennessee shall be submitted to the department of codes administration confirming that the project has sustained reasonable effort to mitigate the effects of light on the environment and surrounding properties, supported by a signed statement describing the mitigation measures. Lighting zones in the model legislation shall correlate to the Transect Category for the site as designated in the Community Plans of NashvilleNext as follows:
T1 Natural LZ-0 T2 Rural LZ-1 T3 Suburban LZ-2 T4 Urban LZ-2 T5 Center D District LZ-3 T6 Downtown LZ-4
d.Light Direction and Control. Lighting applications shall meet the following requirements:
Lighting Application Maximum Inclination Above Nadir Architectural lighting 90 degrees Floodlighting 90 degrees Sidewalk lighting 90 degrees
Official source re-checked September 7, 2026: no newer edition of the code had been published (publisher’s edition: Code of Ordinances: Supplement 53 | Charter: Republication 9).
Full Breakdown
Metropolitan Code of Laws § 17.28.100 sets Metro Nashville's outdoor lighting standards under the zoning title. New commercial construction must meet foot-candle, lumen and light-trespass limits, or a licensed engineer can certify compliance with the International Dark Sky Association's June 2011 model lighting ordinance instead, without the special-use permit that model calls for. Every fixture regulated by the chapter must be full cutoff, uplighting is banned except for flags, and residential lots are exempt apart from floodlight and light-trespass rules. Violations run through Chapter 17.40, Article XIII; the board of fire and building code appeals hears variances. This zoning chapter reaches only Metro's own zoning jurisdiction, not the six satellite cities that keep separate codes.
Violations & Fines
Enforced by the department of codes administration under Metropolitan Code § 17.28.100.G; violations are punishable under Chapter 17.40, Article XIII, and post-installation inspections can require remedial action within 30 days.
Frequently Asked Questions
Does Nashville require dark-sky-friendly outdoor lighting?
Do satellite cities like Belle Meade follow this rule?
Is uplighting allowed in Nashville?
Sources & Official References
Other rules in Nashville
Compare Nashville to another location·View the Tennessee outdoor lighting overview
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