Rockingham County, VA Outdoor Lighting: Light Trespass & Shielding (2026)
Key Facts
- Governing law
- Zoning Ordinance § 17-706(a)
- Property-line max
- 0.5 footcandle (§ 17-706(e))
- Plan required
- Photometric plan with site plan
- Enforcing agency
- Community Development / Zoning Administrator
- Fine range
- $10-$1,000 per § 17-1202
Summary
In Rockingham County outside Harrisonburg and the towns, all outdoor lighting on a site plan must be arranged to protect neighboring parcels from light trespass and light pollution, and fixtures are capped at 0.5 footcandle at the property line.
(a)All outdoor lighting, including the placement, orientation, distribution patterns and fixture types of outdoor lights, shall be installed to protect the adjacent properties from light trespass and light pollution to the fullest extent possible. This includes pole-mounted lights and wall-mounted lights (wall packs). ... (e)Lighting fixtures shall provide only 0.5 footcandle maximum at the property line.
Full Breakdown
Rockingham County's Zoning Ordinance (chapter 17) regulates outdoor lighting under Sec. 17-706. Subsection (a) requires that the placement, orientation, distribution pattern and fixture type of every outdoor light, including pole-mounted fixtures and wall packs, be installed to protect adjacent properties from light trespass and light pollution to the fullest extent possible. Any development that requires an engineered site plan must submit a photometric plan showing property boundaries, fixture locations and mounting heights, plus a numerical 25-foot by 25-foot grid of ground-level footcandle readings, including readings at every property boundary and adjoining public street.
5 footcandle maximum measured at the property line, and subsection (f) separately bars any lighting that produces illumination or glare on streets detrimental to public safety. Subsection (d) requires that fixtures (other than those exempted for sidewalks) be arranged so light is directed away from adjacent properties. The Department of Community Development reviews the photometric plan during site plan review, and the zoning administrator can require the manufacturer cut sheet for every fixture type before approval. Canopy lighting must be recessed so no light spills past the canopy edge. Outdoor lighting, including display lighting, must be turned off after business hours except for the minimum needed for safety and security.
Violations & Fines
Because outdoor lighting is enforced through chapter 17's zoning provisions, a light-trespass complaint is investigated as a zoning violation by the zoning administrator under Sec. 17-1201, and a confirmed violation carries the general Sec. 17-1202 penalty: a misdemeanor punishable by a fine of $10 to $1,000, with a separate $100 to $1,500 fine for each ten-day period the violation is not corrected. The zoning administrator can also require modification or shielding of an offending fixture before issuing further permits.
Frequently Asked Questions
How bright can a neighbor's light be at my property line in Rockingham County?
Do all new outdoor lights need a lighting plan?
Who do I complain to about a neighbor's bright light?
Sources & Official References
Other rules in Rockingham County
Compare Rockingham County to another location·View the Virginia outdoor lighting overview
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