Amarillo's Relaxed Approach to Outdoor Lighting: What's Allowed

Every city handles outdoor lighting a little differently. In Amarillo, Texas, there are 2 distinct rules that residents and property owners should be aware of. Some are stricter than what neighboring cities enforce, and others are more relaxed. Here is what you need to know.

Dark Sky Rules

Amarillo has not adopted a formal dark-sky or light-pollution ordinance. Outdoor lighting is regulated only through general zoning standards in Chapter 4-10 covering glare and light spillover into adjacent properties.

Key details: Dark-sky ordinance: Not adopted. IDA certification: Not certified. Zoning lighting rule: Glare/spillover limits, Ch. 4-10. State restriction: TX SB 1090 (2021) limits new rules.

Glare or light-spillover violations under Ch. 4-10 zoning standards may result in code enforcement citations. No dedicated dark-sky penalties exist.

Amarillo is more permissive than most cities when it comes to dark sky rules. That said, there are still limits.

Light Trespass

Amarillo's zoning code (Chapter 4-10) requires exterior lighting to be shown on site plans but establishes no foot-candle limits or light-trespass standards. No municipal ordinance restricts light spilling onto adjacent properties.

Key details: Local light-trespass rule: None codified. Site plan lighting: Required on plans (Ch. 4-10). Foot-candle limit: Not specified. State law: TX H&S Code Ch. 425 (observatories only).

No specific local penalty for light trespass. General nuisance provisions may apply; private civil action is the primary remedy.

If you are coming from a city with tighter rules, you will find Amarillo gives residents more flexibility on light trespass.

The Bottom Line

Compared to many U.S. cities, Amarillo gives residents more room on outdoor lighting. 2 of the 2 rules here are rated permissive. But permissive does not mean unregulated. There are still requirements, and the city does enforce them when violations are reported.

All of the above reflects Amarillo's municipal code as of our last review. If you need specifics on fines, exemptions, or filing requirements, the detailed ordinance pages linked above have the full breakdown.