Huntsville, AL Outdoor Lighting: Light Trespass & Shielding (2026)
Key Facts
- Property-line cap
- 1 footcandle max
- Floodlight aim limit
- 45° from pole base
- Standard pole height
- 30 ft max
- Triggers plan
- PVA ≥15 spaces/5,000 sf
Summary
Huntsville caps exterior lighting on commercial and multi-family parking lots at one footcandle where it hits an adjoining roadway or residential property line, and requires shielded, cutoff fixtures under the city's Zoning Ordinance.
71.6.2. All exterior lighting fixtures shall be:
(1)Protected by a weather and vandal resistant covering;(2)Located and fitted with appropriate cutoffs, if necessary, to prevent the light level on any adjoining roadway or residential property line from exceeding one footcandle;(3)Aimed so that they do not exceed an angle of 45 degrees out from the base of the pole when using floodlights;(4)Installed on poles 30 feet or less in height, unless the PVA exceeds 25,000 square feet; in such cases, poles exceeding 30 feet, as measured from the finished grade to the bottom of the fixture, may be used if it is demonstrated that all the requirements of this section can be met; and(5)Shielded so as to prevent glare on adjacent properties and rights-of-way.
Official source re-checked September 7, 2026: no newer edition of the code had been published (publisher’s edition: Code of Ordinances: Supplement 30 Update 2).
Full Breakdown
The rule applies to off-street parking and vehicular use areas (PVAs) with 15 or more spaces or 5,000+ square feet. Developers must submit a photometric lighting plan showing point-to-point light levels every 10 feet, including the level at the property line. Fixtures must carry cutoffs so the light level at any adjoining roadway or residential property line stays at or below one footcandle, floodlights can't be aimed more than 45 degrees out from the pole base, and poles are capped at 30 feet unless the PVA exceeds 25,000 square feet. Fixtures must also be shielded to prevent glare on neighboring properties and rights-of-way.
Violations & Fines
A lighting plan that exceeds the one-footcandle property-line cap or lacks required cutoffs and shielding is rejected at site-plan review, and the planning department withholds sign-off until fixtures are corrected.
Frequently Asked Questions
Does this cover a homeowner's backyard floodlight?
What must a lighting plan show?
Sources & Official References
Other rules in Huntsville
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