Lighting Regulations in Stoneville, North Carolina: Preserving Small-Town Character Through Thoughtful Illumination

Introduction: Stoneville's Lighting Legacy

Stoneville, North Carolina, with its rich historical background dating back to the early 1800s, embodies a small-town charm that residents deeply value. Nestled in the northwest piedmont region between the Mayo and Dan rivers, Stoneville's approach to development—including its lighting regulations—reflects its historical roots and strong community values.

After surviving a devastating F3 tornado in 1998 that severely damaged its main business district, the town's resilient spirit led to a community-driven recovery effort. This defining experience has shaped how Stoneville approaches development, with a careful eye toward preserving its historical character while ensuring safety and functionality.

Lighting plays a subtle but crucial role in maintaining Stoneville's charm while providing for residents' needs. The town's regulations, though not extensive, thoughtfully address illumination in residential, commercial, and public spaces.

Quick Reference Guide: Key Lighting Requirements

• Residential Lighting:
• Every dwelling must be wired for electric lights
• All habitable rooms require at least one electric light with switches at outside entrances
• Bathrooms, toilet rooms, laundry rooms, and furnace rooms need ceiling or wall-mounted fixtures
• Public halls and stairways in multiple dwelling units must be adequately lit when natural daylight is insufficient
• Sign Illumination:
• Only indirect, non-flashing, and motionless lighting is permitted for premises signs
• Subdivision signs may be indirectly illuminated or non-illuminated
• Church/institutional signs can have non-flashing illumination
• Church name/location signs cannot be illuminated
• No sign illumination should create hazardous glare for motorists or pedestrians
• Infrastructure:
• Mobile home park plans must specify locations of street and facility lighting
• Towers should not be artificially lit unless required by FAA regulations

Residential Lighting Requirements

Ensuring Safe and Habitable Dwellings

Stoneville recognizes that adequate lighting is fundamental to making dwellings fit for human habitation. The town code explicitly mentions that a "lack of ventilation or light" is among the reasons a dwelling might be deemed unfit for occupancy.

Basic Electrical Requirements

Every dwelling unit in Stoneville must meet these fundamental lighting standards:

• Wiring requirements: All dwelling units must be properly wired for electric lights and convenience receptacles
• Switch placement: Every habitable room requires at least one electric light switched at each outside entrance
• Specialized rooms: Bathrooms, toilet rooms, laundry rooms, and furnace rooms must have at least one supplied ceiling or wall-type electric light fixture with a switch

Multi-Unit Dwelling Standards

For buildings with multiple dwelling units, the regulations add:

• Common areas: Public halls and stairways must always be adequately illuminated
• Switching requirements: Electric lights must be switched on when natural daylight is insufficient
• Maintenance standard: All fixtures, receptacles, equipment, and wiring must be maintained in good repair according to the National Electrical Code

These requirements prioritize safety while ensuring residents have adequate lighting for daily activities.

Sign Illumination Guidelines

General Principles

Stoneville's approach to sign illumination balances visibility with community aesthetics. The town code establishes that all illuminated signs must comply with state laws (G.S. §§ 136-32.1 and 136-32.2) and must not create direct or reflected light that constitutes a hazard or annoyance.

Permitted Illumination Types

Stoneville allows different illumination standards based on sign purpose:

• Business premises signs: May use indirect, non-flashing, and motionless lighting
• Subdivision identification signs: May be indirectly illuminated or not illuminated (maximum size: 32 square feet)
• Institutional signage: Church, institutional, and public building bulletin boards (maximum size: 25 square feet) may have non-flashing illumination
• Church identification: Signs identifying the name or location of a church (maximum size: 6 square feet) cannot be illuminated

These regulations help maintain Stoneville's character while allowing businesses and institutions reasonable visibility.

Infrastructure and Special Use Lighting

Mobile Home Park Requirements

For mobile home developments, Stoneville requires that:

• Preliminary plats must show the location of all street lighting and facility lighting
• Lighting plans must be included as part of the development approval process

Tower Lighting Restrictions

Stoneville's regulations for towers (such as telecommunications structures) specifically address lighting:

• Default position: Towers shall not be artificially lighted
• Exceptions: Lighting is permitted only when required by the FAA or other applicable authority
• Review process: If lighting is required, the town may review available alternatives to approve designs that minimize disturbance
• Changes: Any modifications to tower lighting requirements need additional review by the Town Council

These measured regulations reflect Stoneville's goal of balancing modern infrastructure needs with minimal disruption to the town's visual character.

What Property Owners Should Know

Compliance Priorities

When maintaining or upgrading lighting on your property in Stoneville, focus on:

1. Safety first: Ensure all electrical installations comply with the National Electrical Code
2. Adequate illumination: Provide sufficient lighting in required areas, especially common spaces in multi-unit buildings
3. Sign considerations: If illuminating signs, use only indirect, non-flashing lighting that won't create hazardous glare

Planning for New Developments

If you're planning new construction or significant renovations:

• Incorporate lighting requirements early in your design process
• For commercial developments, pay special attention to sign illumination restrictions
• For mobile home developments, prepare detailed lighting plans for street and facility lighting
• Consider Stoneville's historical character when making lighting choices

Supporting Stoneville's Lighting Vision

Bock Lighting understands the unique needs of communities like Stoneville that value their historical character and small-town atmosphere. With roots dating back to 1918, we appreciate how thoughtful lighting can enhance community character while meeting modern needs.

We recognize that Stoneville's journey—from its early settlement to its resilient recovery from the 1998 tornado—has shaped a community that values both heritage and forward progress. This balancing act is reflected in the town's measured approach to lighting regulations.

Our commitment is to serve as a resource for communities like Stoneville, helping residents and businesses understand how lighting choices impact the overall character of historical areas. We believe that effective lighting solutions should:

• Respect the architectural heritage of communities with historical roots
• Enhance safety and functionality without compromising aesthetic values
• Support the distinctive character that makes towns like Stoneville special places to live

Through education and community engagement, we aim to be partners in preserving the unique character of small towns while meeting their modern lighting needs.

Conclusion

Stoneville's lighting regulations reflect its character as a small, historically-rich community that values both tradition and practicality. While not extensive, these regulations establish important baselines for residential safety, sign illumination, and infrastructure lighting.

Property owners should focus on meeting these basic requirements while considering how their lighting choices contribute to Stoneville's overall atmosphere and historical character. By balancing modern needs with thoughtful restraint, lighting can enhance Stoneville's charm while serving its practical purposes.

The town's approach to lighting—like its recovery from the 1998 tornado—demonstrates resilience and community values, creating a framework that supports both progress and preservation of Stoneville's unique small-town identity.