Chattanooga zoning limits lighting to one footcandle at any lot line and requires all outdoor luminaires to be shielded so no glare falls on adjacent lots or the public right-of-way, protecting neighbors from spillover light.
Chattanooga's exterior lighting controls (Sec. 38-47(b)) hold light trespass at the property line: "the maximum allowable footcandle at any lot line is one footcandle." All outdoor luminaires "must be located and adequately shielded so that there is no glare onto adjacent lots or onto the public right-of-way," and spot lighting of non-residential uses must be aimed away from residential zones. Accent, security, and uplighting are allowed only if they do not exceed one footcandle at any lot line and glare is not visible from adjacent properties. Motion-sensor security lighting that shuts off within 15 minutes is permitted. The city's performance standards (Sec. 38-49) separately require intense light to be shielded so it does not cause a nuisance across lot lines.
Lighting that spills glare onto a neighbor's lot or exceeds one footcandle at the lot line is a code violation; enforcement can require shielding, redirection, or removal plus penalties.
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See how Chattanooga's light trespass rules stack up against other locations.
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