Wake County, NC Outdoor Lighting: Light Trespass & Shielding (2026)
Key Facts
- Illumination cap
- 1 foot-candle at lot line
- Applies to
- All exterior lighting
- Standard type
- Operational performance standard
- Enforcement
- Use-permit compliance condition
Summary
Wake County's UDO caps exterior lighting spillover at one foot-candle measured at the lot line of any use, preventing glare from crossing onto neighboring property.
No exterior lighting may cause illumination in excess of one foot candle at the lot line of any use.
Official source re-checked September 7, 2026: no newer edition of the code had been published (publisher’s edition: Unified Development Ordinance: Supplement 9).
Full Breakdown
Under the UDO's operational performance standards, exterior lighting on a site subject to Article 17 may not cause illumination in excess of one foot-candle at the lot line of the use producing it. The standard applies continuously as a condition of the use permit, not just at the time construction is completed.
Violations & Fines
Illumination measured above one foot-candle at the property line is a violation of § 17-11-7 and of the operational performance conditions attached to the site's use permit.
Frequently Asked Questions
Is there a brightness limit for outdoor lighting in Wake County?
Does this apply to homes or just businesses?
Sources & Official References
Other rules in Wake County
Compare Wake County to another location·View the North Carolina outdoor lighting overview
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