No statewide law
Tennessee
Last checked October 29, 2026
Tennessee has no statewide outdoor lighting or dark-sky statute that we could find. Nashville is the main local exception: the Metro Council passed its Dark Sky Ordinance (BL2020-535) on April 6, 2021. It caps color temperature at 3,000 K, requires aimed fixtures with dimming or shutoff controls, and covers private streetlights plus new or majorly renovated commercial and multifamily buildings.
Municipal codes
- Nashville (Metro Nashville and Davidson County) (opens in new tab): Dark Sky Ordinance BL2020-535, passed April 6, 2021: lights must be aimed and used only as needed, controls must dim or switch them off when idle, and color temperature is capped at 3,000 K. Applies to private streetlights and new or major renovation of commercial and multifamily buildings.
Certified dark sky places in Tennessee
Bringing your own outdoor lighting up to the same standard? See Dark-Sky Friendly Outdoor Lighting.