Harrison County, MS Outdoor Lighting: Dark Sky Rules (2026)
Key Facts
- Governing section
- UDC § 809
- Fixture standard
- Full cut-off, downcast luminaries
- Beam limit
- Must fall within own property line
- Floodlight exemption angle
- ≤25° from vertical
- Motion sensor exemption
- Off within 5 minutes
- Canopy lights
- Fully recessed or shielded
Summary
Harrison County's Unified Development Code requires outdoor lighting in the unincorporated county to use full cut-off, downcast fixtures with the main light beam contained within the property line. Canopy lights must be fully recessed or shielded, and the rule exempts short-duration motion sensors, shielded floodlights, streetlights, ballfield lights and FAA-required lighting.
Purpose, good outdoor lighting at night benefits everyone... New lighting technologies have produced lights that are extremely powerful, and these types of lights may be improperly installed so that they create problems of excessive glare, light trespass, and higher energy use... 809.02 General Requirements... All exterior lighting shall be designed, located and lamped in order to prevent: over lighting, glare, energy waste, light trespass, and sky glow. All exterior lighting shall use full cut-off luminaries with the light source downcast. The main beam of any exterior light must fall within one's own property line.
Official source re-checked September 7, 2026: the cited page had not changed since it was quoted.
Full Breakdown
Harrison County's Unified Development Code regulates outdoor lighting under Section 809, which applies to luminaries on all properties in all zoning districts of the unincorporated county. 01 declares the purpose is that "good outdoor lighting at night benefits everyone," but warns that "new lighting technologies have produced lights that are extremely powerful, and these types of lights may be improperly installed so that they create problems of excessive glare, light trespass, and higher energy use," directing that luminaries be installed as a "good neighbor" to keep unnecessary direct light from shining onto abutting properties or streets.
04 requires pier and dock lighting to avoid being hazardous to navigation and not create a nuisance to neighboring residents. 01 exempts specific fixtures from these standards, including motion-sensor luminaries that turn off within five minutes, shielded floodlights angled no higher than 25 degrees from vertical, shielded streetlights, ballfield lighting used only during play, and FAA-mandated regulatory lighting.
Violations & Fines
Non-exempt fixtures that fail to meet the full cut-off, downcast and property-line beam standards of Section 809.02, or canopy and pier/dock lights that do not meet Sections 809.03-809.04's shielding and nuisance standards, are out of compliance with the UDC and subject to the Code's general Article XIV administration and enforcement process; the Code does not set a separate numeric fine schedule specific to Section 809 within this text.
Frequently Asked Questions
What lighting standard applies to unincorporated Harrison County?
Are motion-sensor lights exempt from Harrison County's lighting rule?
What does the county require for dock and pier lighting?
Do canopy lights at gas stations need to be shielded?
Sources & Official References
Other rules in Harrison County
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