Lighting Regulations in Lillington, North Carolina: Preserving Small-Town Charm While Ensuring Safety and Efficiency

Introduction: Balancing Tradition and Progress

Nestled along the picturesque Cape Fear River, Lillington, North Carolina boasts a rich historical heritage dating back to the late 19th century. As the county seat of Harnett County, this charming town of approximately 4.6 square miles maintains a delicate balance between preserving its historical character and accommodating modern development needs.

Lillington's lighting regulations reflect this commitment to maintaining the town's traditional aesthetic while ensuring safety, efficiency, and minimal light pollution. These carefully crafted standards help preserve the town's small-town appeal while providing clear guidance for residents and businesses.

Quick Reference Guide: Essential Lighting Requirements

• Fixture Heights: Generally limited to 30 feet for full-cutoff fixtures; 16 feet for non-cutoff fixtures
• Light Trespass Limits: Range from 0.1 footcandles (residential districts) to 1.0 footcandles (commercial/industrial)
• Prohibited Lighting: Flashing, moving, rotating, blinking lights; laser source lights; searchlights
• Street Lighting: Required along all public streets within town limits; specific spacing requirements apply
• Sign Illumination: Varies by district; only white light permitted; no flashing illumination
• Parking Areas: Maximum 4-6 footcandles depending on zoning; 4:1 uniformity ratio
• Light Color: All exterior lighting must be amber or white (with limited exceptions)

Understanding Lillington's Lighting Code (Section 4.07)

Lillington's comprehensive Lighting Code (Section 4.07) establishes standards that:

• Minimize light pollution, glare, and light trespass
• Conserve energy and resources
• Maintain nighttime safety and utility
• Improve the nighttime visual environment

Application Requirements

Anyone submitting site plans, special use permits, subdivision plans, or building permits must include detailed lighting plans showing:

• Location, type, and height of all fixtures
• Lumen output of proposed and existing fixtures
• Sufficient information to verify compliance with lighting code

Prohibited Lighting Types

To maintain Lillington's aesthetic character and prevent nuisance lighting, the following are explicitly prohibited:

• Laser source lights for outdoor advertising or entertainment
• Searchlights for advertising purposes
• Lighting that may be confused with warning, emergency, or traffic signals
• Lights that flash, move, revolve, rotate, blink, flicker, vary in intensity or color, or use intermittent electrical pulsation
• Internally lit awnings and canopies used as building accents

Technical Specifications by District

Light Trespass Limits (maximum at property line)

• Residential Districts (RR, RS-15, RS-20, RS-10): 0.1 footcandles
• Mixed Residential Districts (RMF, RMX): 0.3 footcandles
• Mixed-Use/Commercial Districts (NMX, O/S, CB, NB): 0.8 footcandles
• Commercial/Industrial Districts (GB, LI, HI): 1.0 footcandles

Display/Canopy Area Maximum Illuminance

• Residential Districts: 8 footcandles
• Mixed Residential Districts: 12 footcandles
• Commercial/Mixed-Use/Industrial Districts: 20 footcandles

Parking Areas Average Illuminance

• Residential/Mixed Residential Districts: 4 footcandles
• Commercial/Mixed-Use/Industrial Districts: 6 footcandles
• Uniformity ratio: 4:1 minimum to average for all districts

Fixture Requirements and Mounting Heights

General Requirements

• Full-cutoff fixtures required for most outdoor lighting
• Maximum mounting height of 30 feet for fixtures with 90-degree or less cutoff
• Maximum mounting height of 16 feet for fixtures without full 90-degree cutoff
• Poles must have matte or low-gloss finish to minimize glare

Special Applications

• Floodlights: Must be aimed down at least 45 degrees from vertical
• Spotlights: Lamps emitting 1,000+ lumens must be aimed 60 degrees down
• Recreational lighting: Maximum pole height of 80 feet (can be reduced based on specific use)
• Pedestrian lighting: Maximum 18 feet in NMX, CB, O/S, and NB districts

Street Lighting Standards

Placement Requirements

• Residential areas: Street lights placed at 400-foot intervals with exceptions:
• Streets less than 400 feet but more than 200 feet: light required at street end
• Streets less than 200 feet: light at intersection may be sufficient
• Special placement considerations for alignment or natural features
• Required at all street intersections

Fixture Specifications

• Residential areas: 7,000 or 9,500 lumen enclosed high-pressure sodium lamps on 25-foot standard poles
• Thoroughfares: 28,500 lumen (residential areas) or 50,000 lumen enclosed high-pressure sodium lamps on 30-35 foot standard fiberglass poles

Installation Requirements

• Developers must request installation through the town prior to certificate of occupancy issuance
• Underground service for light fixtures must be installed by the developer
• Decorative or "private" street lighting permitted with Administrator approval and HOA responsibility

Sign Illumination Standards

Permitted by District

• Residential Districts: External illumination permitted; internal illumination prohibited
• Commercial/Mixed-Use/Industrial Districts: Both external and internal illumination permitted

General Sign Lighting Requirements

• No flashing or intermittent illumination permitted on any advertising sign
• Complete shielding required for indirect or spot lighting to prevent off-site glare
• Only white light permitted for sign illumination
• Monument signs in Highway Overlay District must be double-sided and internally lit

Special Sign Lighting Provisions

• "Open" signs with neon light permitted in CB, NB & GB districts (maximum 15 watts, 2 square feet)
• Event signs and yard sale signs may not be illuminated
• Animated/flashing signs or signs giving illusion of movement are prohibited

Special Use Lighting Requirements

Building Façade Lighting

• Maximum 5.0 average maintained footcandles on vertical surfaces
• Lighting must be directed only to the intended target with minimized spillover
• Wall packs must be fully shielded, 1,600 lumens or lower, with light source not visible off-site

Landscape Lighting

• Limited to 800 lumens or less
• Must be installed and aimed to prevent lighting build-up and light trespass
• Must be shielded to prevent view from public right-of-way

Vehicular Canopies

• Must use recessed fixtures with lens flush to canopy bottom, or
• Surface-mounted fixtures with flat lens providing cutoff/shielded distribution

Recreational Lighting

• Fixtures must be fully shielded or use Manufacturer's Glare Control Package
• Aimed to focus on primary playing area and immediate surroundings
• Maximum 2 foot-candles at property/right-of-way line
• All lights (except amber security lights) must be cut off after use

Supporting Lillington's Lighting Vision

Bock Lighting, with roots dating back to 1918, understands the delicate balance Lillington strives to maintain between historical preservation and modern lighting needs. As a manufacturer with deep appreciation for community character, Bock shares Lillington's commitment to reducing light pollution while ensuring safety and functionality.

Our expertise in regional architectural styles allows us to help property owners navigate lighting regulations while respecting Lillington's historical charm and small-town atmosphere. We recognize the importance of the Cape Fear River to Lillington's identity and understand how appropriate lighting can enhance this natural feature without overwhelming it.

Bock Lighting stands as a resource for education about lighting regulations, helping community members understand how to achieve compliance while maintaining Lillington's aesthetic vision. Our commitment to sustainable and responsible lighting practices aligns perfectly with Lillington's goal of preserving its traditional character while embracing necessary modernization.

What Property Owners Should Know

Planning for Compliance

When developing lighting plans for your property in Lillington, remember:

• Submit detailed lighting plans with any site plan, special use permit, or building permit application
• Consider light trespass limits based on your zoning district
• Choose appropriate fixture heights (generally 30 feet maximum for full cutoff, 16 feet for non-cutoff)
• Select fixtures with proper shielding to prevent light pollution
• Use amber or white light for exterior lighting (with limited exceptions)

Following Up After Installation

After installing lighting systems:

• Submit a certification of compliance statement to the Administrator before receiving a certificate of occupancy
• Ensure subsequent development phases maintain uniform design for lighting and fixtures
• Consider how your lighting affects neighboring properties, especially near district boundaries

Conclusion

Lillington's lighting regulations strike a thoughtful balance between preserving the town's historical character and meeting modern safety needs. By following these guidelines, property owners help maintain Lillington's charming small-town aesthetic while ensuring adequate illumination for safety and functionality.

These regulations reflect the community's values and commitment to maintaining its distinctive identity along the Cape Fear River. Through thoughtful lighting choices, residents and businesses contribute to preserving Lillington's unique character for generations to come.