Baltimore County limits light trespass through the Zoning Regulations' performance standards. Adjacent residential uses are protected by a footcandle cap at the shared property line, so exterior lighting must be aimed and shielded to keep light from crossing onto neighbors' land.
Baltimore County's outdoor-lighting performance standards restrict illumination measured at the property line. County lighting guidance specifies no greater than 0.5 footcandles at the property line or county right-of-way where the adjacent use is residential, and lower levels at residential tract boundaries within a Residential Transition Area, with a higher 1.0-footcandle limit only where adjacent uses are commercial, office, or industrial. These standards are enforced through the BCZR performance-standard and glare provisions rather than a single dedicated lighting section, so fixtures should be shielded and directed downward. Confirm the exact footcandle limit and applicable BCZR section for your zone with the Department of Permits, Approvals and Inspections before installing high-output exterior lighting.
Lighting that exceeds the property-line footcandle limits or creates glare onto a neighboring residence can be cited as a performance-standard or nuisance violation subject to county enforcement.
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