Rockingham County, VA Outdoor Lighting: Dark Sky Rules (2026)

Rockingham County's outdoor lighting standard, Sec. 17-706, builds in dark-sky shielding requirements alongside its light-trespass limits. Subsection (b) requires that all new lighting fixtures be approved by the International Dark-Sky Association (IDA) or an equivalent standard; any fixture lacking IDA approval must instead be a full cut-off design so no light is emitted above the horizontal plane of the fixture. Subsection (c) then requires that fixtures be installed in a fixed position orienting the light downward, though incidental fixtures that cause neither glare nor light trespass onto adjacent parcels are exempted.

Subsection (k) further requires that lighting posts and fixtures be placed so landscaping, vegetation and signage do not interfere with a fixture's effectiveness, and subsection (l) obligates the property owner to maintain, repair or replace any lighting installed to meet these standards for as long as the use continues. The same section requires a manufacturer's cut sheet for each fixture type at site plan or building plan review, so Community Development staff can confirm cut-off compliance before a permit issues. These shielding rules apply on top of, not instead of, the section's numeric footcandle ceiling, so a fixture can fail Sec. 5 footcandle property-line limit or by lacking the required cut-off design.