James City County, VA Outdoor Lighting: Light Trespass & Shielding (2026)
Key Facts
- Trespass threshold
- 0.1 footcandle at property line
- Exception
- Lighting a public pedestrian accommodation
- Waiver route
- Written request to planning director
- Applies via
- Site/subdivision lighting plan (§ 24-130)
- Compliance check
- Post-installation inspection (§ 24-130(e)(2))
Summary
James City County caps how much outdoor light can spill onto a neighbor's property. Under Zoning Ordinance § 24-132(c), light trespass measured at 0.1 footcandle or higher beyond any property line, or into the public right-of-way, is prohibited, with a narrow carve-out for lighting a public pedestrian accommodation and a waiver route through the planning director.
(c)Light trespass. Light trespass, defined as light intensity measured at 0.1 footcandle or higher extending beyond any property line or into the public right-of-way, shall be prohibited. In cases where there is a public pedestrian accommodation located within an adjacent public right-of-way, light intensity greater than 0.1 footcandle may cross into the right-of-way in order to light the pedestrian accommodation. In all other instances, the applicant may request a waiver to allow for a light intensity higher than 0.1 footcandle to extend beyond a property line upon written application to the planning director. In evaluating such a waiver, the planning director shall consider the type of lighting, impact on adjacent properties and roadways, and any circumstances that are unique to the property.
Full Breakdown
1 footcandle or higher extending beyond any property line or into the public right-of-way, and it flatly prohibits that level of spillover. 1 footcandle may cross into that right-of-way in order to light the pedestrian accommodation itself. 1 footcandle threshold beyond a property line must apply in writing to the planning director for a waiver; the planning director then weighs the type of lighting proposed, its impact on adjacent properties and roadways, and any circumstances unique to the property before deciding whether to grant it.
This trespass limit works alongside the county's broader lighting design rules: § 24-132(e) requires site lighting to be coordinated with the landscape plan so vegetation doesn't create unintended glare gaps as it matures, and § 24-132(f) lets the planning director approve temporary spotlights or floodlights for special or seasonal events that would not otherwise meet the shielding standards. Every fixture subject to these rules first passes through the lighting plan review required by § 24-130 for site and subdivision plans.
Violations & Fines
Light trespass compliance is checked at the same points as the county's other lighting standards. The county can conduct a post-installation inspection under § 24-130(e)(2) to verify installed fixtures meet the approved lighting plan and the 0.1 footcandle limit in § 24-132(c); a fixture found exceeding the threshold without an approved waiver can be required to be re-aimed, re-shielded or relocated to bring the site back into compliance.
Frequently Asked Questions
How much light can cross onto my neighbor's property in James City County?
Can a business get permission to exceed the 0.1 footcandle limit?
Who checks whether a site's lighting actually stays under the limit?
Sources & Official References
Other rules in James City County
Compare James City County to another location·View the Virginia outdoor lighting overview
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