Durham's UDO limits light crossing onto neighbors. Illumination at a property line next to a residential district may not exceed 0.5 foot-candles, and lighting must be oriented so it does not direct glare or excessive light onto streets and adjacent homes.
Light trespass, meaning a neighbor's light spilling onto your property, is addressed directly by Durham's joint City-County Unified Development Ordinance in Section 7.4, which covers the City and unincorporated Durham County. The ordinance sets a hard spillover cap: the maximum illumination at the edge of the property line adjacent to a residential zoning district shall be 0.5 foot-candles (rising to 5.0 foot-candles at nonresidential or street property lines). Separately, lighting shall be oriented not to direct glare or excessive illumination onto streets and adjacent residences. Together these give Durham residents a measurable standard to cite when a neighbor's floodlights or commercial lighting intrude. Start by talking with the neighbor, then contact Durham City-County Planning, which can measure the spillover and
Lighting that exceeds 0.5 foot-candles at a residential property line or throws glare onto neighbors violates UDO Sec. 7.4. Durham City-County Planning can order the fixture shielded, re-aimed, lowered, or replaced, with penalties for non-compliance.
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See how Durham County's light trespass rules stack up against other locations.
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