Cobb County, GA Outdoor Lighting: Light Trespass & Shielding (2026)
Key Facts
- Applies to
- Non single-family-lot projects
- Core standard
- No stray light trespass onto neighbors
- Plan required
- Poles, height, wattage, mounting angle
- Reviewing agency
- County Dept. of Transportation
Summary
Cobb County's lighting-plan ordinance requires developers to control stray light so it doesn't trespass onto adjacent properties or roadways, backed by a required plan showing every fixture.
(a)Lighting plans shall be drawn to scale and shall show the location of all proposed lights and nearby county roads and adjacent properties and the following information:(1)Arrangement of all poles (with dimensions);(2)Height of all poles;(3)Number of luminaries per pole;(4)Mounting heights of luminaries;(5)Wattage of proposed lights;(6)Mounting angle of fixtures; and(7)Lamp source to be used.(b)A picture of the light to be utilized must be attached to the final plans. Care must be exercised to control any stray light that might trespass upon adjacent properties and roadways.(c)The requirements set out in this section are minimum requirements, based on chapter 106, article II, division 3, pertaining to street lighting. The county department of transportation may require additional information or conditions prior to final approval. (Ord. of 12-26-72; Ord. of 12-11-90, § 3-28-16.3)
Official source re-checked September 7, 2026: no newer edition of the code had been published (publisher’s edition: Code of Ordinances: Supplement 53).
Full Breakdown
Any project in unincorporated Cobb County proposing outdoor lighting, apart from individual residential lots, must submit a county-approved lighting plan showing pole arrangement, height, luminaire count, mounting height, wattage, mounting angle and lamp source, plus a picture of the fixture. The ordinance directs that care must be exercised to control any stray light that might trespass upon adjacent properties and roadways, and the county department of transportation may require more information before final approval.
Violations & Fines
Lighting plans that fail to control stray light spilling onto neighboring properties or roadways can be rejected or conditioned by the county department of transportation before final approval.
Frequently Asked Questions
Does Cobb County regulate light spilling onto my neighbor's yard?
Do single-family homeowners need a lighting plan?
Sources & Official References
Other rules in Cobb County
Compare Cobb County to another location·View the Georgia outdoor lighting overview
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