Union County, NC Outdoor Lighting: Light Trespass & Shielding (2026)
Key Facts
- Light trespass limit
- 0.5 fc above ambient
- Measured at
- Right-of-way or residential lot line
- Measurement height
- 3 ft above grade
- Shielding rule
- Light only the sign face
- Citation
- UDO § 50.070
Summary
Union County caps sign glare at the property line under UDO Section 50.070: light trespass from an illuminated sign cannot push the light level along a right-of-way or a residential lot line more than 0.5 foot-candles above ambient. Fixtures aimed at a sign must be shielded to light only the sign face, not the street or a neighbor's yard.
Light trespass from any illuminated sign may not cause the light level along the right-of-way line or any property line of a lot occupied by a residential dwelling unit to exceed 0.5 foot-candles above ambient light levels. Maximum illumination levels are measured 3 feet above grade or from the top of any fence or wall along the property line. Lighting directed toward a sign shall be shielded so that it illuminates only the face of the sign and does not shine directly into a public right-of-way or onto abutting property.
Full Breakdown
Article 50's illumination rules apply to every sign the county allows to be lit, from a wall sign on a shopping center to an off-premise billboard along Highway 74. 5 foot-candles above the ambient light already present. The measurement point is fixed by the ordinance too, taken 3 feet above grade or from the top of any fence or wall running along the property line, so a taller privacy fence can be used as the measuring plane. A separate shielding requirement applies on top of the numeric cap: any light fixture aimed at a sign must be shielded so it illuminates only the sign's face, and it cannot shine directly into a public right-of-way or onto an abutting property. 060. 5 foot-candle limit and the shielding rule before installing it.
Violations & Fines
A sign whose light trespass exceeds 0.5 foot-candles above ambient at a right-of-way or residential property line, or whose fixture is not shielded to the sign face, violates Article 50 and is enforced under Article 95: a 10-day warning citation followed by $50, $200 and $500 fines for repeat citations, with each day of a continuing violation treated as a separate offense.
Frequently Asked Questions
How bright can an illuminated sign be at my property line in Union County?
Where exactly is sign light trespass measured?
Does the lighting rule apply to billboards along Highway 74?
Sources & Official References
Other rules in Union County
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