Buncombe County, NC Outdoor Lighting: Light Trespass & Shielding (2026)
Key Facts
- Property-line limit
- 0.75 footcandles
- Public right-of-way limit
- 3.0 footcandles
- Average project limit
- 4.5 footcandles
- Meter calibration
- within previous 2 years
- Civil penalty
- $100.00 per day
- Enforcing office
- zoning administrator
Summary
Buncombe County caps outdoor light spilling onto neighboring land at 0.75 footcandles measured at the property line, or 3.0 footcandles at a public street right-of-way, under Code Sec. 78-668(e)(1). The average light level across a developed project cannot exceed 4.5 footcandles, and inspectors measure trespass with a calibrated meter held at ground level.
(e)Lighting specifications.(1)Intensity.a.Unless otherwise specified, the maximum light level at any point shall be 0.75 footcandles at any property line, or 3.0 footcandles at any public street right-of-way.b.The maximum average light level for the developed area of the project to be permitted shall be 4.5 footcandles.c.The maximum rating for LED lights shall be 4.300 degrees Kelvin....(f)(4)Light measurement technique. Light level measurements of light trespass shall be made at the property line of the property upon which light to be measured is being generated. Measurements shall be made at finished grade (ground level) with the light registering portion of the meter held parallel to the ground pointing up. Measurements shall be taken with a light meter that has been calibrated within the previous two years.
Official source re-checked September 7, 2026: no newer edition of the code had been published (publisher’s edition: Code of Ordinances: Supplement 37).
Full Breakdown
Sec. 0 footcandles. 5 footcandles, and LED fixtures cannot exceed 4,300 degrees Kelvin. The county sets the measurement method in Sec. 78-668(f)(4): readings are taken at the property line of the source parcel, at finished grade, with the meter's light-registering face held parallel to the ground and pointing straight up, using a light meter calibrated within the previous two years. 0 footcandles average for parking lots, 25 footcandles for outdoor sales areas, and dusk-to-dawn utility or security lights capped at 9,500 lumens. Anyone installing new permanent outdoor lighting must submit a lighting plan sealed by a licensed engineer with the zoning certificate of compliance application showing a point-by-point footcandle array, and a signed as-built drawing confirming the installed lighting matches the approved plan is due before the certificate of occupancy is issued.
Violations & Fines
A light trespass complaint is enforced the same way as any other Sec. 78-668 violation: the zoning administrator issues a written notice of violation before any penalty attaches, giving the property owner 30 days to bring the fixture within the 0.75-footcandle property-line limit. Under Sec. 78-583(d), failing to correct the trespass exposes the owner to a $100.00-per-day civil penalty until the violation is fixed, and the administrator's decision can be appealed to the board of adjustment under Sec. 78-623.
Frequently Asked Questions
How bright can a neighbor's outdoor light be at my property line?
How does the county measure a light trespass complaint?
Who do I contact about a neighbor's floodlight shining onto my yard?
Sources & Official References
Other rules in Buncombe County
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