Columbus, GA Outdoor Lighting: Light Trespass & Shielding (2026)
Key Facts
- Residential line cap
- 1.0 foot-candle
- Max fixture height
- 30 feet at residential line
- Nonresidential line cap
- 3 foot-candles
- Bulb visibility
- Not visible from adjacent lot
- Curfew
- Extinguish by 11 p.m. (exceptions)
Summary
Columbus, Georgia caps nonresidential and commercial lighting at 1.0 foot-candle at a residential zoning district line, requires cut-off fixtures along residential perimeters, and bans any bulb that stays visible from an adjacent property line.
A.Intent. The intent of this Section is to limit the spillover of commercial or nonresidential lighting at or beyond a property line into property possessing a residential zoning district designation...Residential Zoning District Line 1.0 foot-candle 30 feet Cut-off fixtures to be used along all perimeters with residential district. 2,3...5.Source not Visible. Any bulbs that are the source of lighting or illumination shall not be visible from any adjacent property line.
Official source re-checked September 7, 2026: no newer edition of the code had been published (publisher’s edition: Code of Ordinances: Supplement 75).
Full Breakdown
The Columbus, Georgia Unified Development Ordinance's lighting standards exist specifically to stop commercial or nonresidential light from spilling across a property line onto land in a residential zoning district. Table 4.2.1 caps illumination at a residential zoning district line to 1.0 foot-candle, with a 30-foot maximum fixture height, and requires cut-off fixtures along every perimeter shared with a residential district. Nonresidential zoning district lines get a higher 3 foot-candle cap. Separately, the section bars any lighting source: the bulb producing the light or illumination may not be visible from any adjacent property line, regardless of zoning.
Violations & Fines
Uncapped floodlights or bare bulbs visible from a neighboring property, or fixtures without required cut-off shielding along a residential boundary, violate the standard and can be cited when a required lighting or photometric plan is not followed.
Frequently Asked Questions
How bright can commercial lighting be at my property line in Columbus, Georgia?
Can a neighbor's business have a visible bare bulb pointed at my yard?
Sources & Official References
Other rules in Columbus
Compare Columbus to another location·View the Georgia outdoor lighting overview
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