Tennessee has no dark-sky statute, but Williamson County's Zoning Ordinance (Section 16.03) requires downward-directed lighting and full cut-off fixtures over 1,000 lumens on nonresidential and site-plan projects. Single-family homes are exempt. Brentwood and Franklin add city standards.
There is no Tennessee dark-sky law, so outdoor lighting is a local zoning matter. Williamson County's Zoning Ordinance, Section 16.03, sets outdoor lighting standards for uses that require a site plan: all lighting must be directed downward, fixtures over 1,000 lumens must use full cut-off lenses or hoods to prevent glare and spillover, and illumination at the property line is capped at 0.2 footcandles. Single-family dwellings, mobile homes, and street lighting are exempt. Inside the cities, Brentwood, long known for a dark, low-lit residential character, and Franklin apply their own lighting and glare rules through city zoning.
The county planning department enforces Section 16.03 at site-plan review and can withhold approval or require a noncompliant fixture to be shielded, aimed down, or replaced. Cities enforce their own lighting standards through zoning review.
Other ordinances people look up for this city. Green dot = verified primary-source excerpt.
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