Rock Hill, SC Outdoor Lighting: Dark Sky Rules (2026)

10 of the Zoning Ordinance of the City of Rock Hill, titled Shielding, requires that exterior light fixtures exceeding 1,000 lumens use full cut-off lenses or hoods to prevent glare or spillover from the project site onto adjacent lands and streets. Canopy lighting cannot let a light source or lens extend downward past the lowest edge of the canopy ceiling unless it is full cut-off in design, and internally illuminated awnings or canopies used for building accents are prohibited outright, aside from awning or canopy signs, whose internal lighting must stay confined to the sign's message area.

Architectural accent lighting used on building features, landscaping, flagpoles or art must be aimed and shielded so the light source itself is not visible, and LED or neon strip lighting intended to outline a building, canopy or parapet does not meet that standard and is prohibited. Upward-directed architectural lighting cannot be visible above the roofline and is capped at 10 foot-candles measured at grade. The Planning Commission may approve alternative designs, such as illuminated awnings or LED/neon strip lighting, only where they are part of an overall architectural design meant to enhance the building's appearance rather than serve as an attention-getting feature. 5 for non-residential) and took effect with the ordinance's March 1, 2006 effective date, current through the June 22, 2026 update.