Broken Arrow's Outdoor Lighting: The Rules That Matter

Every city handles outdoor lighting a little differently. In Broken Arrow, Oklahoma, there are 3 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.

Light Trespass & Shielding

Broken Arrow requires every outdoor light fixture on commercial and multi-family sites to be shielded and aimed parallel to grade so no direct light shines beyond the property it serves.

Key details: Max height near homes: 16 feet within 50 ft. Max height, mid-range: 20 feet, 51-250 ft. Citywide max height: 35 feet. Residential exempt: single-family, duplex fixtures. Review point: site plan submittal.

Installing unshielded or misaimed fixtures without an approved lighting plan violates the Zoning Ordinance and is a misdemeanor under Section 8-2-3, carrying up to a $1,000 fine or ten days jail per day of violation.

Dark Sky Rules

Broken Arrow's zoning code requires every outdoor light fixture on nonresidential, multi-family, and mixed-use sites to use a shielded, full cutoff luminaire angled no more than 90 degrees so light stays off neighboring Tulsa County property.

Key details: Cutoff angle limit: 90 degrees maximum. Applies to: nonresidential, multi-family, mixed-use sites. Residential exempt: single-family and duplex homes. Adopted: Ord. No. 3877, May 20 2025. Compliance proof: lighting plan required with site plan.

Violating any zoning ordinance provision, including the lighting shielding standard, is a misdemeanor under Section 8-2-3 punishable by up to a $1,000 fine or ten days in jail; each day counts as a separate violation.

Billboard Lighting

Billboards in Broken Arrow may only use external, shielded lighting: the Zoning Ordinance's sign table does not list internal illumination as an option for this sign type.

Key details: Illumination type: external only, must be shielded. Internal lighting: not permitted for billboards. Changeable copy: not permitted. Table source: Table 5-1-5-3, Billboard Sign.

Operating an unshielded or internally lit billboard is a zoning violation: a Class B misdemeanor punishable by up to a $1,000 fine and 10 days in jail per day (Sec. 8-1-3.C).

The Bottom Line

Broken Arrow'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 Broken Arrow is broadly strict or permissive.

All of the above reflects Broken Arrow'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.