Roswell, GA Outdoor Lighting: Light Trespass & Shielding (2026)
Key Facts
- Aiming rule
- Directed at targeted area only
- Sensor placement
- No glare onto neighboring lots
- Trigger limit
- Can't activate from off-property motion
- Related exemption
- 10-min motion lights exempt (10.4.3.B.7)
Summary
Roswell requires security lighting to be aimed only at the area it protects, and sensor-activated fixtures must be positioned so they don't glare onto neighboring property or trigger from off-property activity.
C. Security Lighting. 1. Security lighting is lighting that provides a level of illumination to clearly identify persons or objects and creates a psychological deterrent to unwanted or unsafe activity in the area being protected. 2. Security lighting must be directed toward the targeted area. 3. Sensor activated lighting must be located in such a manner as to prevent direct glare and lighting into properties of others or into a public right-of-way, and the light must not be triggered by activity off the property.
Official source re-checked September 7, 2026: no newer edition of the code had been published (publisher’s edition: Code of Ordinances: Supplement 17 | Unified Development Code: Supplement 5).
Full Breakdown
UDC § 10.4.5.C defines security lighting as illumination meant to identify persons or objects and deter unwanted activity in the protected area, then sets two operative rules: the fixture must be directed toward the targeted area, and any sensor-activated lighting must be positioned to prevent direct glare or light spilling onto neighboring properties or the public right-of-way, and must not be triggered by activity happening off the property it serves. A separate exemption in § 10.4.3.B.7 covers motion-sensor security lighting that runs 10 minutes or less per activation.
Violations & Fines
Security fixtures aimed off the protected area, or sensor lights that glare onto neighbors or trigger from off-site motion, fail § 10.4.5.C and are subject to the same permit review and Certificate of Occupancy certification process as the rest of § 10.4.
Frequently Asked Questions
Can my security light shine onto my neighbor's yard in Roswell, Georgia?
Are motion-activated security lights exempt from Roswell's shielding rules?
Sources & Official References
Other rules in Roswell
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