In unincorporated Shelby County, the Unified Development Code (UDC 4.7) requires regulated outdoor lighting to minimize light trespass and obtrusive light onto neighboring property, using shielding and BUG ratings, but lighting on single-family and two-family homes is exempt.
Light trespass, unwanted light crossing onto adjacent property, is addressed through the Memphis/Shelby County UDC, Section 4.7, on unincorporated county land. The code directs that lighting be designed so it accomplishes on-site needs without intrusion on adjacent properties and that installations minimize backlight, uplight, and glare on neighboring uses. Regulated developments must meet Backlight-Uplight-Glare (BUG) ratings and shield parking-lot lighting so no light is emitted above 90 degrees. These requirements apply to sites that abut or face single-family residential districts; UDC Sec. 4.7 does not regulate single-family or two-family home lighting. So a spillover complaint against a regulated commercial site can go to Planning and Development, but home-to-home complaints fall outside the UDC. Cities apply their own codes.
A regulated development whose lighting exceeds BUG ratings or spills obtrusive light onto abutting property in violation of UDC Sec. 4.7 can be cited by Planning and Development. Ordinary home-to-home light complaints fall outside the UDC and are private matters.
Other ordinances people look up for this city. Green dot = verified primary-source excerpt.
shelby-county-tn
Backyard composting is allowed in Shelby County and has no dedicated permit, but compost and organic material must be managed so it does not become harmful v...
shelby-county-tn
Shelby County has no ordinance banning or specially permitting artificial turf. Synthetic turf is not counted as living landscaping under the Unified Develop...
shelby-county-tn
The Memphis and Shelby County Unified Development Code favors native landscaping, directing that trees and shrubs be predominately hardy Tennessee native spe...
shelby-county-tn
Shelby County has no ordinance prohibiting or specially licensing residential rainwater harvesting. Rain barrels and cisterns are generally allowed, and Tenn...
shelby-county-tn
Shelby County has no mandatory outdoor watering schedule. Water is supplied by Memphis Light, Gas and Water from the Memphis Sand Aquifer, and MLGW promotes ...
shelby-county-tn
The Code of Shelby County authorizes the county to compel owners of unincorporated property to cut rank weeds, grasses, and underbrush deemed a health or tra...
See how Shelby County's light trespass rules stack up against other locations.
Help us keep this page accurate. If you notice an error or outdated information, let us know.