Rock Hill, SC Outdoor Lighting: Light Trespass & Shielding (2026)
Key Facts
- Governing section
- Zoning Ordinance § 8.9.7
- Residential property-line cap
- 0.5 foot-candles
- Non-residential property-line cap
- 2.5 foot-candles
- Fixture setback from property line
- 5 feet minimum
- Nighttime shutoff near homes
- 10 p.m. to 6 a.m.
Summary
Rock Hill caps outdoor light spilling onto neighboring land at 0.5 foot-candles measured at the property line where the lit property is residential, and 2.5 foot-candles where it is non-residential, applying to all outdoor lighting and any indoor lighting visible from outside the building.
All outdoor lighting and indoor lighting visible from outside the building must be designed and located so that the maximum illumination measured in foot-candles at property lines do not exceed the following standards: A. When Subject Property is Used Residentially: When the use of the subject property is residential, the maximum illumination at the property line is 0.5 foot candles, regardless of the light type. B. When Subject Property is Used Non-Residentially: When the use of the subject property is non-residential, the maximum illumination at the property line is 2.5 foot candles, regardless of the light type.
Full Breakdown
5 foot-candles when it is used non-residentially. 11(A), which sets exterior fixtures back at least five feet from all external property lines (fixtures may sit closer only for infill development within Old Town, provided the foot-candle limits are still met). 8 backs the property-line cap with a uniformity ratio, capping the maximum-to-minimum light-level ratio on a site at 15 to 1 in residential districts and 10 to 1 elsewhere, so a site cannot meet the edge limit by leaving a bright hot spot near the line and dark areas elsewhere. or during non-operating hours, except for security or emergency lighting, which may run on motion sensors.
Violations & Fines
Compliance is checked at site plan review by the City's Planning & Development Department; lighting plans exceeding the 0.5 or 2.5 foot-candle property-line caps are not approved. A neighbor who measures light exceeding these limits at the property line, or a business that fails to shut off non-security lighting after 10 p.m. under § 8.9.13, can be reported to the City for a zoning compliance investigation and correction order.
Frequently Asked Questions
How bright can a Rock Hill neighbor's outdoor light be at my property line?
Does Rock Hill require a setback for outdoor light fixtures?
Must a Rock Hill business turn off lights at night near homes?
Sources & Official References
Other rules in Rock Hill
Compare Rock Hill to another location·View the South Carolina outdoor lighting overview
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