Auburn's zoning caps light crossing a property line at one foot-candle next to homes and five next to nonresidential land (Section 515). Unincorporated Lee County has no foot-candle rule; spillover is a private nuisance.
Auburn directly limits light trespass. Zoning Section 515 says illumination from a light source may not exceed one foot-candle measured at any property line adjoining a residential development, or five foot-candles adjoining a non-residential development, and requires fixtures to be aimed and shielded onto the property and away from streets and sidewalks. Opelika enforces similar boundary-lighting standards. Unincorporated Lee County, by contrast, has no light-trespass ordinance with foot-candle limits; the county zoning's supplemental regulations are reserved. Between two rural homes, a neighbor's floodlight is generally addressed as a private nuisance in civil court. Documenting the light with photos and dates helps.
Inside Auburn or Opelika, a light-trespass complaint brings a notice to correct and possible fines. In the unincorporated county there is no foot-candle standard to cite, so the remedy is a private nuisance claim.
Other ordinances people look up for this city. Green dot = verified primary-source excerpt.
Lee County, AL
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See how Lee County's light trespass rules stack up against other locations.
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