Jackson County, GA Outdoor Lighting: Light Trespass & Shielding (2026)

Section 1702 defines light trespass as light produced by a luminaire that shines beyond the boundary of the property where it sits, one of the harms Article 17's findings section blames on careless outdoor lighting. Section 1706 turns that concept into an enforceable standard: a luminaire is out of compliance if it is aimed, directed or focused so the lamp itself is visible, if it directs light toward residential buildings on adjacent or nearby land, or if it creates glare perceptible to drivers on public ways.

The fix required is not automatically removal; the code calls for the fixture to be redirected or its output controlled as necessary to eliminate the condition. This section works alongside Section 1705's full cutoff requirement, since a properly shielded fixture aimed level is far less likely to trespass, but shielding alone does not excuse a fixture pointed straight at a neighbor's house. Article 17 applies to all private outdoor lighting installed in unincorporated Jackson County under Section 1703, and persistent, unaddressed glare that annoys the surrounding community can also be pursued as a nuisance under the county's separate Article 18 nuisance abatement process.