Origins and Goals Lighting the night is widely considered a birthright of contemporary urban life. Recent trends suggest, however, it may be possible to get too much of a good thing. Modern advances in lighting technology have often translated into brighter fixtures at more affordable costs.
Many individuals feel brighter lights are naturally better.
Nearly two years ago, the Raleigh Appearance Commission began studying the possibility of updating the City Code to address these concerns. The present draft ordinance represents the collective work of literally dozens of local citizens, including lighting professionals, members of the development community, business people, city staff, architectural and landscape designers, astronomy enthusiasts, and numerous other interested parties. All have freely volunteered their time and expertise to speak to this issue. The outline below further details the origins, goals, and provisions of the proposed ordinance. At the March 20 public hearing, the draft ordinance was referred to the Raleigh Planning Commission for further study.