South Fulton, GA Outdoor Lighting: Light Trespass (2026)

Light trespass is controlled by Section 408.06 of South Fulton's Zoning Ordinance. It requires nonexempt fixtures to be "located, aimed or shielded so as to minimize glare and stray light trespassing across property boundaries and into the public right of way," then sets numeric caps measured at the property line: a maximum of 1.0 foot-candle at a property line abutting a residential or agricultural use, and 1.5 foot-candles at a property line abutting an office, institutional, commercial, or industrial use. Flood and spot lamps must be positioned no higher than 45 degrees above straight down when the source is visible from any off-site residential property or public roadway. Illumination levels are measured at any height and orientation along the property line (except parking-lot levels, measured at grade). For outdoor recreation fields and performance areas, off-site spill is further limited to 1.5 foot-candles at any non-residential property line and 0.5 foot-candles at any residential property line (Section 408.07(a)). Security lighting must be directed toward the targeted area and sensor-activated lighting must be located to prevent direct glare into neighboring properties or the public right-of-way (Section 408.07(c)). These are the city's own standards, administered through permitting and code enforcement; Georgia does not preempt them.