Greenwood, IN Outdoor Lighting: Light Trespass & Shielding (2026)
Key Facts
- Residential property line cap
- 0.5 foot-candles
- Non-residential property line cap
- 2.0 foot-candles
- Parking lot property line cap
- 2.5 foot-candles
- Exempt area
- Old Town (OT) District
Summary
Outdoor lighting in Greenwood cannot exceed 0.5 foot-candles at a residential property line, 2.0 foot-candles at a non-residential property line, or 2.5 foot-candles at a parking lot line, and fixtures cannot be oriented to direct glare onto adjacent properties, streets or sidewalks, under Sec. 10-03-07.D.1.a-b.
a. Except in the OT District, the maximum light level of any light fixture cannot exceed 0.5 foot-candles measured at the property line of any residential zone or district containing a residential use, 2.0 foot-candles measured at the property line of any non-residential zone or district non-containing a residential use, and 2.5 foot-candles at the property line of a parking lot. b. Lighting must not be oriented to direct glare or excessive illumination onto adjacent properties, streets or sidewalks.
Full Breakdown
Greenwood's UDO measures light trespass in foot-candles, defined in Sec. 10-03-07.C as readings taken at ground level with the meter's light-registering portion held parallel to the ground and pointing up. Subsection D.1.a sets the numeric ceiling: except in the Old Town district, the maximum light level of any fixture cannot exceed 0.5 foot-candles measured at the property line of a residential zone or a district containing a residential use, 2.0 foot-candles at the property line of a non-residential zone without a residential use, and 2.5 foot-candles at the property line of a parking lot.
Subsection D.1.b adds a qualitative backstop alongside those numbers: lighting must not be oriented to direct glare or excessive illumination onto adjacent properties, streets, or sidewalks, regardless of whether the numeric foot-candle limit is technically met. Community Development Services reviews compliance with both the foot-candle caps and the anti-glare orientation rule as part of the photometric plan required with every final site plan under Sec. 10-03-07.A, and the Old Town district is carved out of the numeric limits given its denser, older development pattern.
Violations & Fines
A property whose lighting exceeds the applicable foot-candle limit at the property line, or that directs glare onto a neighboring property or street, is subject to enforcement as a civil zoning violation. The Planning Director's office issues a warning ticket before any citation on a first offense, and repeat or uncorrected violations escalate, with a right of appeal to the Board of Zoning Appeals.
Frequently Asked Questions
How bright can a neighboring business's lights be at my property line in Greenwood?
What if a fixture technically meets the foot-candle limit but still glares into my yard?
How is light trespass measured in Greenwood?
Sources & Official References
Other rules in Greenwood
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