Lexington County, SC Outdoor Lighting: Light Trespass & Shielding (2026)
Key Facts
- Illumination cap
- 1.0 foot candle at the protected property line
- Measured at
- Restrictive Development District or grandfathered residential boundary
- Covers
- Any non-mobile light source, including vehicle storage lighting
- Governing section
- Sec. 24.52, Appendix B Zoning Ordinance
- Related rule
- Sec. 24.53 bans glare crossing the same line
Summary
Lexington County caps stray light from any non-mobile source, including lit vehicle storage areas, at 1.0 foot candle where it crosses into a Restrictive Development District or an adjacent grandfathered residential property line. Sec. 24.52 measures the limit at that boundary line, not at the light's source.
Foot Candle: a unit of illumination. Technically, the illumination at all points 1 foot distant from a uniform point source of 1 candlepower....Any land use activity producing light from a non-mobile source, which includes the storage of inoperable vehicles, shall not cause illumination in excess of 1.0 foot candle when measured in a Restrictive Development District or across the protected property line of an adjacent grandfathered residential use.
Official source re-checked September 7, 2026: no newer edition of the code had been published (publisher’s edition: Code of Ordinances: Supplement 20).
Full Breakdown
52, Limitation of Illumination, part of the Light and Glare standards adopted in full by Ord. No. 0 foot candle when measured in a Restrictive Development District or across the protected property line of an adjacent grandfathered residential use. 51 defines a foot candle technically as the illumination at all points 1 foot distant from a uniform point source of 1 candlepower, the standard unit light-measurement devices use to check compliance. 0 foot candle. 54, which separately bans flashing, blinking, strobe, or pulsating lights outright in every district (with an exception for seasonal decorations). 0 foot candle cap at the line.
Violations & Fines
A land use whose exterior lighting measures above 1.0 foot candle at the protected property line is out of compliance with Sec. 24.52, and the Zoning Administrator can require corrective measures such as shielding, fixture redirection, or lower wattage before signing off on or continuing to permit the activity. The same enforcement path covers the related glare standard in Sec. 24.53.
Frequently Asked Questions
How much light can spill onto my property from a neighboring business in Lexington County?
What is a foot candle, and how is it measured?
What happens if a business's lighting exceeds the limit?
Sources & Official References
Other rules in Lexington County
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