Outdoor Lighting in Arlington Heights, IL

Arlington Heights maintains 88 local ordinances across all categories, and 2 of those deal specifically with outdoor lighting. Here is a breakdown of what the city actually requires, what is prohibited, and where Arlington Heights falls on the strict-to-permissive spectrum compared to other cities.

Dark Sky Rules

Off-street parking lot lighting in Arlington Heights, Illinois must be shielded and optically controlled so it cannot glare or create a nuisance on neighboring property. Poles between 20 and 40 feet must use flat-bottom, sharp cut-off fixtures with no diffusing refractors, and no parking lot light pole in the village may rise above 40 feet.

Key details: Governing section: § 28-10.2-12.3 (Lighting). Fixture standard: Shielded, optically controlled, glareless. Poles 20-40 ft: Flat-bottom sharp cut-off fixtures required. Max pole height: 40 feet, no exceptions. Poles 0-20 ft: Translucent, not transparent, materials only.

A non-conforming parking lot fixture is not grandfathered indefinitely: subsection (g) requires every existing non-conforming off-street parking area to be brought up to the shielding, cut-off, and height standards of Section 10.2-12.3 as soon as its lighting becomes obsolete or is replaced. The Director of Engineering approves fixture designs, and the Building Commissioner enforces the zoning code generally; a property owner who disputes a lighting determination may appeal to the Zoning Board of Appeals under Section 28-11.

Light Trespass & Shielding

Arlington Heights, Illinois zoning code puts a hard number on how much light an off-street parking lot can throw onto a neighbor's property. Section 28-10.2-12.3(b) caps horizontal illumination measured at the neighboring lot at just 0.1 foot-candles next to single-family homes, rising to 5.0 foot-candles next to industrial, park, school, and institutional land.

Key details: Governing section: § 28-10.2-12.3(b) (Lighting spillage). Single-family residential limit: 0.1 foot-candles (1.0 lux). Multi-family residential limit: 0.2 foot-candles (2.0 lux). Business district limit: 2.0 foot-candles (21.5 lux). Industrial/park/school limit: 5.0 foot-candles (53.8 lux).

A parking lot that measures over its district's foot-candle ceiling at the neighboring property line is out of compliance with Section 10.2-12.3(b), and subsection (g) requires any non-conforming lighting to be brought into compliance once it becomes obsolete or is replaced. The Director of Engineering reviews and approves fixture plans; a property owner disputing a light-trespass finding can appeal to the Zoning Board of Appeals under Section 28-11, which also hears variation requests from strict yard and lighting standards.

The Bottom Line

Arlington Heights's outdoor lighting rules are a mixed bag. Some areas are strict, others are relaxed, and the details matter. The best approach is to check the specific rule that applies to your situation rather than assuming Arlington Heights is broadly strict or permissive.

Keep in mind that Arlington Heights can amend these rules at any council meeting. For the most current version of any rule mentioned here, check the specific ordinance page, where we track updates as they happen.