Alpharetta, GA Outdoor Lighting: Light Trespass & Shielding (2026)

Alpharetta addresses light trespass through its design review standards rather than a citywide numeric lighting code. Sec. 36-69(a)(18) lists 'undesirable elements' the design review board is directed to discourage across every district and corridor of influence subject to design review, and item d, 'excessive site and building lighting,' states that site and building lighting should be minimal, with lighting standards and levels left to the board's discretion. The same subsection specifies that site lighting should not distract motorists or pedestrians near the project, that building lighting should not distract from the architecture but should complement it, and, most directly on point, that site or building lighting should not spill over onto adjacent properties and should be directed specifically at the building to limit lighting of the night sky.

Sec. 36-66 sets the geographic reach of this design review division: it applies to non-single-family detached buildings and sites within the central business district and historic district, the Westside Parkway and Windward Parkway corridors of influence, interchange districts, and any project that otherwise includes design review as a condition of development. Sec. 36-68 requires a photometric site lighting study certified by a professional, showing foot-candle levels extending to all property lines, as part of every application for a certificate of design approval, giving the board a technical basis to enforce the no-spillover standard before construction.

Sec. 36-71 lets the community development department issue a citation for a violation of the division, pursue it through municipal court or the city code enforcement board, or seek an injunction to correct or abate the violation once a project is built out of compliance.