Design Standards for Exterior Lighting
Biloxi Land Development Ordinance § 23-6-8(E)
in effect(E) - Design Standards for Exterior Lighting
All exterior lighting shall meet the following standards:
(1) Maximum Lighting Height
a. Except for outdoor sports fields or performance areas, the height of outdoor lighting, whether mounted on poles or walls or by other means, shall be no greater than 20 feet in Agricultural and Residential Districts and the LB, NB, WF, SB, and DT Districts, and no greater than 30 feet in the CB, RB, and I Districts.
b. Wherever possible, illumination of outdoor seating areas, building entrances, and walkways shall be accomplished by use of ground mounted fixtures not more than four feet in height.
(2) Shielding
a. Exterior
Light fixtures in excess of 100 lumens shall use full cut-off lenses or hoods to prevent glare or spillover from the project site onto adjacent lands and streets.
b. Interior
No interior light source shall be positioned, aimed, or configured so as to result in the light source being visible from occupied adjoining land zoned A, RE, RER, RS-, RM-, RMH, or AHO.
c. Canopies
No light source in a canopy structure shall extend downward further than the lowest edge of the canopy ceiling.
d. Awnings
Awnings or canopies used for building accents over doors, windows, etc., shall not be internally illuminated (i.e., from underneath or behind the awning).
(3) Maximum Illumination Levels
All outdoor lighting and indoor lighting visible from outside shall be designed and located so that the maximum illumination measured in foot-candles at ground level at the development site's property lines shall not exceed the standard in Table 23-6-8(E)(3), Maximum Illumination Levels, for the type of use or development. Cut-off lighting shall be designed to direct light downward (e.g., shoe box style).
TABLE 23-6-8(E)(3): MAXIMUM ILLUMINATION LEVELSco;normal;normal
TYPE OF USE 1 co;normal;normal | MAXIMUM ILLUMINATION AT PROPERTY LINE (FOOT-CANDLES) co;normal;normal
Residential or Public and Institutional Use | 0.5
Commercial Use, Water-Oriented Facilities, and Mixed-Use Developments | 2.5
Industrial Use | 2.5
Vehicular Use Areas 2 | 2.5
NOTES: 1. See use tables in Sections 23-4-1(B) and 23-4-1(C). 2. Minimum illumination level at the edge of the vehicle use area shall be 0.2 foot-candle.
Source: City of Biloxi, Mississippi, Code of Ordinances and Land Development Ordinance (Municode Library, library.municode.com)URL: https://library.municode.com/ms/biloxi/codes/land_development_ordinance?nodeId=ART23-6DEST_8EXLI_EDESTEXLIFetched: 11/2/2026