Richland County, SC Outdoor Lighting: Light Trespass & Shielding (2026)
Key Facts
- Property-line limit
- 0.1 horizontal / 0.1 vertical foot-candles
- Outdoor retail cap
- Average 2.5 foot-candles
- Fixtures
- Full-cutoff with visors
- Spacing
- Pole distance >= luminaire height
- Authority
- LDC Sec. 26-177(b)
Summary
Unincorporated Richland County caps light spilling onto neighboring property. Illumination at a property line may not exceed 0.1 horizontal or 0.1 vertical foot-candles (outdoor retail up to an average of 2.5). Luminaires must be full-cutoff, downward-aimed, and fitted with visors to control off-site spill and glare.
Illumination from any luminaire at property lines shall not exceed .1 horizontal or .1 vertical foot-candles; provided, however, outdoor retail uses shall not exceed an average of 2.5 horizontal and/or vertical foot-candles. ... All luminaires shall have internal visors/panels or external visors that control offsite light spill and glare.
Official source re-checked September 7, 2026: no newer edition of the code had been published (publisher’s edition: 2026 S-24: This supplement is current through Ordinance No. 033-25HR).
Full Breakdown
Sec. 26-177(b) sets the light-trespass standard for new development. At property lines, illumination cannot exceed 0.1 horizontal or 0.1 vertical foot-candles, with outdoor retail uses allowed an average of 2.5 foot-candles. All luminaires must have internal/external visors, must be full-cutoff certified, and must be properly aimed and maintained to control off-site spill and glare. Distance rules also require the spacing between commercial or athletic luminaires and a residential property line to be at least equal to the luminaire height. Cities enforce their own lighting standards.
Violations & Fines
Lighting that exceeds the foot-candle limit at a property line is a zoning violation addressed through development review and enforced by the Planning Department.
Frequently Asked Questions
How much light can spill onto my neighbor's property?
Is a bright security light on a neighbor's home a violation?
Sources & Official References
Other rules in Richland County
Compare Richland County to another location·View the South Carolina outdoor lighting overview
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