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Greenville County, SC Outdoor Lighting: Light Trespass & Shielding (2026)

Some Restrictions
Compiled from the official code textEditor Martyn O'NeillLast verified July 2026

Key Facts

Numeric limit (ESD-PM)
0.1 foot-candle at property line
Applies to
New development, not existing homes
Fixture requirement
Cutoff / shielded
Home-to-home cap
None county-wide
Authority
Zoning Ordinance Sec. 8:5.10

Summary

Greenville County limits light trespass through its development standards. In the Environmentally Sensitive (ESD-PM) district, light trespass may measure no greater than 0.1 foot-candle at the property line with adjoining residential property, and general site lighting must use cutoff fixtures to reduce spillover.

City-specific rules exist: Simpsonville has its own light trespass & shielding rules that differ from Greenville County's county-level regulations. If you live in Simpsonville, check the city-specific page instead.

Lighting shall use downward and/or inward facing fixtures and/or utilize light shields to limit light trespass onto adjoining residential properties, and light trespass shall measure no greater than 0.1 foot-candle at the property line with adjoining residential property.

View official code

Full Breakdown

The Greenville County Zoning Ordinance addresses light trespass through land-development standards rather than a nuisance rule for existing homes. Section 8:5.10 sets a measurable cap for the Environmentally Sensitive District (ESD-PM): lighting must use downward or inward-facing fixtures or shields so that light trespass measures no greater than 0.1 foot-candle at the property line with adjoining residential property. For multifamily development in commercial districts, lighting must be designed to minimize light trespass on adjoining parcels using cutoff fixtures aimed to reduce obtrusive light on neighboring properties. There is no county-wide numeric limit on light from one existing single-family home onto another; that is generally a private or city matter.

Violations & Fines

Development lighting exceeding the 0.1 foot-candle ESD-PM property-line limit, or failing the cutoff-fixture standard, is corrected through Greenville County site-plan and land-development enforcement.

Frequently Asked Questions

Is there a limit on light shining onto my property in Greenville County?
In the ESD-PM district, development lighting may not exceed 0.1 foot-candle at the property line with adjoining residential property. Ordinary home-to-home glare is not capped county-wide.
What can I do about a neighbor's bright light?
The county sets no numeric limit between existing homes, so raise it with your city if incorporated, or pursue it as a private nuisance; the county's cutoff standards apply to new development.

Sources & Official References

Other rules in Greenville County

Animal Ordinances: Dog Leash LawsSome RestrictionsDark Sky RulesSome RestrictionsBillboard LightingSome RestrictionsNoise Ordinances: Vehicle NoiseSignificant RestrictionsNoise Ordinances: Decibel LimitsSome RestrictionsNoise Ordinances: Barking DogsSome RestrictionsAnimal Ordinances: Exotic PetsSignificant RestrictionsAnimal Ordinances: Mandatory Spay/NeuterLight Restrictions

All Greenville County rules

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Light Trespass & Shielding in Cities Across Greenville County

Simpsonville, SC