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

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

Key Facts

Countywide trespass rule
None
Tybee shielding standard
Sec. 3-230 (beach-visible lights)
Neighbor spillover
Zoning or nuisance law
Fallback remedy
Common-law private nuisance
First step
Contact neighbor, then zoning office

Summary

Chatham County has no general light-trespass ordinance; spillover from a neighbor's lights is handled through zoning standards or nuisance law. On Tybee Island, beachfront fixtures must be shielded so the light source is not visible from the beach (Sec. 3-230).

These county ordinances apply to unincorporated areas of Chatham County. Incorporated cities within the county may have their own rules that take precedence over county-level regulations.

Floodlights shall be shielded and mounted so that no light illuminates the beach and the point source of light is not visible from the beach.

View official code

Full Breakdown

Everyday light-trespass between neighbors is not covered by a specific countywide rule; remedies come from NewZO lighting standards where they apply and from Georgia common-law private nuisance for severe, persistent glare. The one place with an explicit, quotable shielding standard is Tybee Island's sea-turtle code. Under Land Development Code Sec. 3-230, floodlights shall be shielded and mounted so that no light illuminates the beach and the point source of light is not visible from the beach, and pole lighting must be shielded and directed away from the seaward side. Those rules protect the beach and dunes rather than adjacent yards, but they show the shielding standard the city enforces.

Violations & Fines

Where a lighting standard applies (such as Tybee Sec. 3-230), the city or county can order a fixture shielded, redirected, or turned off. Absent a local standard, the remedy for severe glare is a private-nuisance action.

Frequently Asked Questions

Who handles a neighbor's floodlight shining onto my property?
Start with the neighbor, then your city or Chatham County zoning/code office. There is no general county light-trespass ordinance, so severe glare may have to be pursued as a common-law private nuisance.
Does any Chatham jurisdiction require shielded fixtures?
Yes, on Tybee Island near the beach. Sec. 3-230 requires floodlights and pole lights to be shielded so the light source is not visible from the beach, primarily to protect nesting sea turtles.

Sources & Official References

Other rules in Chatham County

Noise Ordinances: Quiet HoursSome RestrictionsNoise Ordinances: Construction HoursSome RestrictionsDark Sky RulesSome RestrictionsNoise Ordinances: Vehicle NoiseSome RestrictionsNoise Ordinances: Amplified Music & Outdoor SoundSome RestrictionsNoise Ordinances: Decibel LimitsSome RestrictionsFire Regulations: FireworksHeavy Restrictions

All Chatham County rules

Compare Chatham County to another location·View the Georgia outdoor lighting overview

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