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

Some Restrictions
Compiled from the official code textEditor Martyn O'NeillLast verified September 2026

Key Facts

Residential foot-candle limit
None
Parking lighting
90-degree cutoff
Airport overlay
No glare/spillage
Enforcement
Community Development
Home disputes
HOA or civil claim

Summary

Paulding County sets no residential foot-candle light-trespass limit. The zoning code controls glare from parking and commercial fixtures, and the airport overlay requires lighting near the airport to prevent spillage and glare toward aircraft.

These county ordinances apply to unincorporated areas of Paulding County. Incorporated cities within the county may have their own rules that take precedence over county-level regulations.

all outside lighting shall be designed to prevent direct glare, light spillage, or hazardous interference with aircraft operation and flight patterns.

Source: Georgia Code (O.C.G.A.)View official code

Official source re-checked September 7, 2026: no newer edition of the code had been published (publisher’s edition: Code of Ordinances: Supplement 35).

Full Breakdown

Paulding County does not fix a numeric foot-candle limit at residential property lines the way some counties do. Instead, glare control lives in the zoning ordinance's parking and overlay provisions. Parking-area lighting must be arranged so it does not cast glare onto adjacent streets or properties and, where required, uses a 90-degree cutoff. In the Paulding Airport Mixed-Use Overlay District around Paulding Northwest Atlanta Airport, outside lighting must be designed to prevent direct glare, light spillage, or hazardous interference with aircraft. A homeowner troubled by a neighbor's floodlight relies mainly on HOA covenants or a private nuisance action, since the county code does not cap residential light trespass.

Violations & Fines

Commercial and parking-lot lighting that throws glare across property lines violates the zoning standards; Community Development issues a correction notice and can withhold permits. No county penalty applies to residential light trespass.

Frequently Asked Questions

How much light can cross onto my property in Paulding County?
The county zoning code sets no residential foot-candle limit. Only parking, commercial, and airport-overlay lighting standards restrict glare and spillage.
My neighbor's security light shines into my window - what can I do?
The county does not regulate residential light trespass, so check your HOA covenants or pursue a private nuisance claim in civil court.

Sources & Official References

Other rules in Paulding County

Parking Rules: Street Parking LimitsSome RestrictionsAnimal Ordinances: Dog Leash LawsSome RestrictionsDark Sky RulesSome RestrictionsNoise Ordinances: Barking DogsSome RestrictionsNoise Ordinances: Leaf Blower RulesSome RestrictionsParking Rules: EV ChargingSome RestrictionsFence Regulations: Material RestrictionsSignificant Restrictions

All Paulding County rules

Compare Paulding County to another location·View the Georgia outdoor lighting overview

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