Henrico County, VA Outdoor Lighting: Light Trespass & Shielding (2026)

Henrico County Code Sec. 24-104.1(g)(4) states that illumination from any sign shall not exceed 0.5 foot candle above ambient lighting conditions at any property line, and shall not shine directly into oncoming traffic or directly into a dwelling. External sign lighting must use full cut-off or directionally shielded fixtures aimed so the light is substantially confined to the sign. For general site lighting, Sec. 24-3850(C)(4) requires lighting to be designed so as to prevent the direct view of the light source to neighboring residential areas, and fixtures must be full-cutoff, shielded, or angled downward. Together these rules address light spilling onto neighboring property and into windows. There is no separate residential glare-nuisance decibel-style limit beyond these zoning standards.