Cary, NC Outdoor Lighting: Light Trespass & Shielding (2026)
Key Facts
- Applies to
- Non-residential & multi-family sites
- Exempt
- Single-unit attached/detached homes
- Pole-mounted floodlights
- Prohibited outright
- Standard
- Shielded, aimed away from neighbors
Summary
On Town of Cary sites subject to development plan review, floodlights and spotlights must be aimed and shielded away from neighboring properties; single-unit homes are exempt from this Land Development Ordinance standard.
Lighting fixtures shall be selected, located, aimed, and shielded so that direct illumination is focused exclusively on a portion of the building facade or other intended site feature and away from adjoining properties or the right-of-way. On-site lighting may be used to accent architectural elements but shall not be used to illuminate entire portions of building(s). Such lighting shall be installed in a fixture that is shielded such that no portion of the light bulb extends below the bottom edge of the shield, and that the main beam from the light source is not visible from adjacent properties of the adjacent right-of-way. Floodlights or other type of lighting attached to light poles that illuminate the site and/or building(s) are prohibited.
(G) Wall Pack Lights Wall packs on buildings may be used at entrances to a building to light unsafe areas. They are not intended to draw attention to the building or provide general building or site lighting. "Wall Packs" on the exterior of the building shall be fully shielded (true cut-off type bulb or light source not visible from off-site) to direct the light vertically downward and be of low wattage (preferably one hundred (100) watts or lower).
(H) Illumination of Outdoor Sports Fields and Performance Areas Lighting of outdoor sports fields and performance areas shall be installed in accordance with the Town's Community_Appearance_Manual and the following requirements:
Official source re-checked September 7, 2026: no newer edition of the code had been published (publisher’s edition: 2023 S-87_S-57: Current through local ordinance 2022-Code-05, passed 11-17-2022 and effective 11-17-2022 | LDO: Current through local ordinance 2022-LDO-04, passed 11-17-22 and effective 11-17-22).
Full Breakdown
LDO § 7.9.3(F) requires floodlights and spotlights on development-plan-reviewed sites, commercial, industrial, multi-family, and similar projects in the Town of Cary, Wake County, to be selected, located, aimed, and shielded so illumination hits only the building facade or intended feature, not adjoining properties or the right-of-way. Fixtures must be shielded so no part of the bulb extends below the shield and the main beam isn't visible off-site, and floodlights mounted on light poles to illuminate an entire site or building are banned outright. Per LDO § 7.9.1, single-unit attached and detached homes are exempt from Section 7.9 entirely.
Violations & Fines
An unshielded or misaimed floodlight that spills light onto a neighboring property or the right-of-way violates the approved development plan and can draw a citation from Planning staff on inspection or complaint.
Frequently Asked Questions
Do Cary's floodlight-shielding rules apply to a single-family house?
Can a business light its whole site with pole-mounted floodlights?
Sources & Official References
Other rules in Cary
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Light Trespass & Shielding in Nearby Cities
How other cities in Wake County handle light trespass & shielding.