Union County, NC Outdoor Lighting: Dark Sky Rules (2026)
Key Facts
- Shielding cutoff
- ≤2.5% of light above 90° from nadir
- Spillover at residential line
- 0.5 foot-candles max
- Spillover at other lines
- 3.0 foot-candles max
- Permit required
- Zoning permit, nonresidential fixtures
- Residential exemption
- Lots under 4 dwelling units exempt
- First-citation fine
- $50, then $200, then $500
Summary
In unincorporated Union County, nonresidential outdoor lighting must be shielded so almost none of the light escapes above horizontal, and light spilling across a property line is capped at 0.5 to 3.0 foot-candles depending on the neighboring zone.
Shielding: ... Light sources must be concealed or shielded with cutoffs so that no more than 2.5% of the light emitted directly from the lamp or indirectly from the fixture is projected at an angle of more than 90 degrees above nadir and no more than 10% of the light emitted directly from the lamp or indirectly from the fixture is projected at an angle of more than 80 degrees above nadir. ... Spillover Light: Illumination along the lot line of the subject property may not exceed 0.5 foot-candles when abutting a residential zoning district and may not exceed 3.0 foot-candles when abutting any other zoning district or public right-of-way. Maximum illumination levels are measured 3 feet above grade or from the top of any screening fence or wall along the property line.
Full Breakdown
5% of the light from the lamp or fixture is projected more than 90 degrees above nadir (straight down) and no more than 10% is projected more than 80 degrees above nadir, the standard illustrated in Figure 55-6. 0 foot-candles where it abuts any other district or a public right-of-way, measured 3 feet above grade or at the top of any screening fence or wall. A zoning permit is required before any nonresidential outdoor lighting is constructed, modified, or expanded, a permitting requirement added by amendment on August 6, 2018.
Canopy lighting, such as at gas stations, must use recessed fixtures with diffusers that do not extend past the canopy surface. The rule applies only outside the corporate and extraterritorial limits of Union County's towns; Monroe, Indian Trail, Waxhaw and the other municipalities enforce their own lighting codes. The ordinance itself carves out several exemptions: lighting on lots with fewer than 4 dwelling units, public and private street lights, FAA-required airport and tower lighting, government flag lighting, emergency and law-enforcement lighting, pedestrian lighting mounted no more than 5 feet above grade, and lighting for temporary events lasting 10 days or fewer.
Violations & Fines
Violating the shielding or spillover standards, or building nonresidential lighting without the required zoning permit, is enforced under UDO Section 95.020. The administrator can withhold or revoke permits on the property, and the county can issue a warning citation giving 10 days to correct the problem, followed by escalating fines of $50 for a first citation, $200 for a second, and $500 for a third or later citation for the same violation. Each day the noncompliant lighting stays in place is a separate offense, and any violation is also a misdemeanor punishable under NCGS 14-4 by up to a $500 fine or 30 days in jail.
Frequently Asked Questions
Does the shielding rule apply to a single-family home's porch light?
How bright can a commercial fixture's spill be at my fence line?
Do I need a permit to install a new parking lot light at my business?
Sources & Official References
Other rules in Union County
Compare Union County to another location·View the North Carolina outdoor lighting overview
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