Outdoor Lighting in Colorado Springs, CO: What Residents Actually Need to Know

If you live in Colorado Springs or are thinking about moving there, outdoor lighting are one of those things you probably won't think about until they affect you directly. Colorado Springs has 2 specific rules on the books covering different aspects of outdoor lighting, and some of them might surprise you.

Light Trespass & Shielding

Colorado Springs requires floodlights, spotlights and other exterior fixtures on covered development to be fully shielded so the lamp isn't visible from any property line, with floodlight beams capped at 45 degrees above vertical and no glare or light trespass past one footcandle onto neighbors.

Key details: Floodlight beam angle: Max 45° above vertical. Full-cutoff leakage limit: 10% beyond 80°, 2.5% beyond 90°. Light trespass cap: 1 footcandle at property line. Motion-light shielding exemption: Under 1,800 lumens, off in 10 min. Residential-adjacent pole height cap: 20 feet.

Part 7.4.12 carries no standalone fine schedule, so a fixture that fails shielding, glare, trespass or height standards is caught at the Development Plan or building-permit stage under Section 7.5.503: the Building Official won't approve the permit or issue a Certificate of Occupancy until the lighting plan conforms. Any completed installation found out of compliance falls under the City Code's general penalty, Section 1.1.201: a fine up to $2,500, jail up to 189 days, probation, or a combination, unless a lower penalty applies elsewhere.

Dark Sky Rules

New construction, major expansions, and lighting retrofits in Colorado Springs must meet the dark-sky shielding standards in UDC Part 7.4.12. Fixtures other than motion-detector lights must be fully shielded so the lighting element isn't visible from any property line, and must be full-cutoff type: no more than 10% of emitted lumens beyond 80 degrees from vertical, and no more than 2.5% beyond 90 degrees. High-pressure sodium site lighting is banned outright.

Key details: Shielding rule: Element hidden from every property line. Full-cutoff limit: ≤10% lumens beyond 80° from vertical. HPS lighting: Banned for all site lighting. Efficiency floor: 80 lumens per watt minimum. Governing section: City Code § 7.4.1203.

Because Part 7.4.12 standards attach to the Development Plan and building-permit process, noncompliant fixtures block plan approval and permit issuance outright rather than triggering a standalone fine. Once installed, unshielded or non-cutoff lighting is unlawful under UDC § 7.1.106 (Conformity With Regulations Required) and can be cited by the City's Code Enforcement Officer for correction.

The Bottom Line

Colorado Springs'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 Colorado Springs is broadly strict or permissive.

This guide is based on Colorado Springs's current municipal code. Local rules can and do change, so check the individual ordinance pages for the latest details, penalties, and FAQs.