Gulfport, MS Outdoor Lighting: Light Trespass & Shielding (2026)
Key Facts
- Facade-mounted cap
- 12 feet, all Transect Zones
- Freestanding cap (T3)
- Lesser of 1/3 distance to line or 25 ft
- Freestanding cap (T5/T6)
- 32.5 ft / 37.5 ft
- Adjustment
- Available by Warrant
- Applies in
- Elected SmartCode Planning Areas only
Summary
In SmartCode zones, Gulfport ties an outdoor light fixture's mounting height to how close it sits to a property line: a pole light is capped at the lesser of one-third of its distance to the line or 25 feet in T3 zones, cutting the reach of glare onto a neighbor's yard.
The mounting height of a permanent outdoor Luminaire which is attached directly to the Facade or Elevation of a building shall not exceed 12 feet, where mounting height is measured from the top-most point of the Luminaire. For a permanent outdoor Luminaire supported by any other means, mounting height shall be limited to the lesser of one-third the distance from the Luminaire to any property line or 25 feet, adjustable by Warrant.
Official source re-checked September 7, 2026: no newer edition of the code had been published (publisher’s edition: Code of Ordinances: Supplement 68).
Full Breakdown
9(c) for the T3 Sub-Urban zone, controls light spilling onto adjoining property through mounting height rather than a lumens-at-the-line test. A luminaire attached directly to a building facade is capped at 12 feet, measured from its topmost point. A pole-mounted or otherwise freestanding fixture is capped at the lesser of one-third the distance from the luminaire to any property line, or 25 feet, adjustable by Warrant; that formula means a light placed close to a boundary must be mounted correspondingly lower, directly limiting how far its glare can travel onto the neighboring lot.
5 feet respectively while keeping the same one-third-of-distance formula, reflecting taller buildings and wider setbacks in those cores. 9(b) and (d) rely on to keep light directed down and away from adjacent lots. As with the rest of the SmartCode, these mounting-height limits govern only land within an elected SmartCode Community Planning Area rather than the city as a whole.
Violations & Fines
The SmartCode does not print a stand-alone fine for an oversized fixture; height and shielding compliance is reviewed as part of the Consolidated Review Committee's plan review and Planning Commission approval for the Community Plan, and non-compliant lighting installed without an approved plan is enforced through the City's general building-permit and stop-work authority under Section 1-9 of the Code.
Frequently Asked Questions
How tall can an outdoor light pole be near my property line in Gulfport?
Is there a wall-mounted light height limit in Gulfport's SmartCode?
Can I get an exception to Gulfport's outdoor light height limit?
Sources & Official References
Other rules in Gulfport
Compare Gulfport to another location·View the Mississippi outdoor lighting overview
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