Carmel's UDO directly addresses light trespass. Lighting may not cast more than 0.1 foot-candle of illumination at any residential lot line or right-of-way, or 0.3 foot-candle at non-residential lines. Overlay districts require lighting to be designed so light is not directed off the site and the source is shielded from direct offsite viewing.
Carmel uses the term 'light trespass' in its UDO and sets numeric limits to control it. For residential accessory uses, Section 5.02(B)(4) provides that no lighting shall cause illumination at or beyond any lot line in excess of 0.1 foot-candle. More generally, the UDO's lighting standards state that lighting shall not cause illumination beyond any residential lot line or road right-of-way line in excess of 0.1 foot-candle, nor beyond any non-residential tract, parcel, or right-of-way line in excess of 0.3 foot-candle. Several overlay districts add a 'Light Trespass' standard (for example, Section 3.47(B)) requiring that exterior lighting of buildings or sites be designed so light is not directed off the site and the light source is shielded from direct offsite viewing. Lights near single-family residential property face reduced pole heights, and gas-station and adjacent-to-residential lighting must be fully shielded down-lighting. These provisions give neighbors and the Department of Community Services an objective measure: spillover above 0.1 foot-candle at a residential property line is non-compliant. Enforcement typically arises through plan review for new development or complaint-based code enforcement for existing fixtures.
Exterior fixtures that cast more than 0.1 foot-candle at a residential lot line (or 0.3 at non-residential lines), or that direct unshielded light onto a neighboring property, violate the UDO and can prompt correction notices and required reaiming, shielding, or replacement of fixtures.
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