North Richland Hills is not a certified Dark Sky community but enforces outdoor lighting standards requiring full-cutoff fixtures in most commercial zones and regulating light trespass into neighboring properties. Residential lighting is lightly regulated.
NRH Zoning Ordinance addresses outdoor lighting primarily in commercial, multifamily, and Town Center districts. Nonresidential parking lot lighting must use full-cutoff fixtures with no light emitted above the horizontal plane, mounting heights typically capped at 25 feet in commercial and 18 feet near residential zones, and shielding oriented to contain light on site. Lighting levels at property lines adjacent to residential zones must not exceed 0.5 foot-candles. Uplighting of flags, signs, or architectural features is limited and must be shielded. Sports field lighting in parks and schools has specific standards to limit spill. Residential lighting is not comprehensively regulated, but excessive glare or light directed at neighboring bedrooms can be addressed under the city's general nuisance ordinance. LED color temperature is generally recommended to stay at or below 3000K for commercial installations. Homeowners retrofitting security lighting should choose shielded fixtures to avoid neighbor complaints. Holiday and temporary lighting is exempt. NRH is not currently pursuing International Dark-Sky Association certification but aligns with many IDA best practices in newer developments like Home Town.
Commercial lighting violations are Class C misdemeanors with fines up to 500 dollars per day. Nuisance residential lighting can be ordered abated by Code Compliance.
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