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Bessemer, AL Outdoor Lighting: Light Trespass & Shielding (2026)

Light Restrictions
Compiled from the official code textEditor Martyn O'NeillLast verified September 2026

Key Facts

Governing rule
No glare beyond property line
Standard type
Performance test, no lux number
Pool lighting fixture cap
10 feet (Sec. 9.6)
Tennis court lighting
Shielded, reflected away from neighbors
General penalty
Up to $500 fine, 6 months

Summary

Bessemer's zoning ordinance bars any outdoor light or reflected glare that reaches beyond a property line and interferes with a neighbor's safety or welfare, under Appendix B, Section 8.8(1). The rule applies citywide as a general performance standard rather than a lumens or foot-candle limit.

(1)Direct or reflected light or glare shall not be produced so as to adversely affect the visibility or tend to interfere with the safety or welfare of persons located at or beyond any property line.

View official code

Official source re-checked September 7, 2026: no newer edition of the code had been published (publisher’s edition: Code of Ordinances: Republication).

Full Breakdown

8 of Appendix B, the zoning ordinance, is titled 'Lighting and glare' and contains a single subsection: direct or reflected light or glare cannot be produced so as to adversely affect visibility or interfere with the safety or welfare of persons located at or beyond any property line. The standard is written as a performance test rather than a measured limit; the ordinance does not set a foot-candle ceiling or a fixture-height number for general outdoor lighting the way it does for some specific uses.

7(1)(c) requires private tennis court lighting to be shielded below the horizontal plane of the fixture and reflected away from adjacent property. Both reinforce that Bessemer treats light spilling onto a neighboring lot, not merely light on the source property, as the harm the ordinance targets. 8 sits in the same supplementary district regulations portion of Appendix B as the yard and fence rules, it is enforced by the same building and inspections department that reviews site and yard compliance, and a light-trespass complaint is handled as a zoning code matter rather than through a separate nuisance ordinance.

Violations & Fines

A property owner whose fixtures throw glare or light beyond the lot line and interfere with a neighbor's safety or welfare is out of compliance with Section 8.8(1) and can be required to shield, redirect or remove the offending fixtures. As with other Appendix B provisions, a violation falls under the Code of Ordinances' general penalty, Section 1-8: a fine of up to $500.00, imprisonment or hard labor up to six months, or both, with continuing violations charged separately for each day.

Frequently Asked Questions

Does Bessemer set a maximum brightness for outdoor lights?
No. Section 8.8(1) of Appendix B uses a performance standard: light or glare cannot adversely affect the safety or welfare of anyone at or beyond your property line. There is no foot-candle or lumen ceiling in the general rule, so enforcement turns on whether the light is actually spilling onto and affecting a neighboring property.
Are there stricter lighting rules for specific backyard features?
Yes. Swimming pool lighting fixtures cannot exceed ten feet in height under Section 9.6(1)(d), and private tennis court lights must be shielded below the horizontal plane of the fixture and directed away from adjacent property under Section 9.7(1)(c). Both sit alongside the general glare standard in Appendix B.
Who do I contact about a neighbor's floodlight shining into my yard?
The building and inspections department handles Appendix B zoning complaints, including light trespass under Section 8.8(1). A substantiated complaint can require the fixture to be shielded, redirected, or removed, and repeated noncompliance is subject to the Code's general penalty under Section 1-8.

Sources & Official References

Other rules in Bessemer

Parking Rules: Overnight ParkingSome RestrictionsParking Rules: Street Parking LimitsSome RestrictionsNoise Ordinances: Amplified Music & Outdoor SoundSome RestrictionsNoise Ordinances: Vehicle NoiseSome RestrictionsParking Rules: Abandoned VehiclesSignificant RestrictionsParking Rules: Loading ZonesSome Restrictions

All Bessemer rules

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