Lynnwood's Outdoor Lighting: The Rules That Matter

Every city handles outdoor lighting a little differently. In Lynnwood, Washington, 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.

Dark Sky Rules

Lynnwood's Unified Development Code caps how much light a nonresidential or large multifamily site can put into the night sky, sorting every zoning district into one of three lighting zones and capping total lumens per parking space under Lynnwood Municipal Code Sections 8.40.0500 and 8.40.0560.

Key details: Purpose: Minimize glare, sky glow, night-sky impact. Lighting zones: LZ-1, LZ-2, LZ-3 by zoning district. LZ-1 cap: 490 lumens per parking space. LZ-3 cap: 840 lumens per parking space. Exempt: Single-family residential lighting.

Outdoor lighting installed over the site lumen limit or without the required photometric plan is a Unified Development Code violation reviewed by Lynnwood's development services department at permit stage, and an installed system found out of compliance is enforced through Chapter 1.40 code enforcement, starting with a notice and corrective order and civil penalties from $100.00 the first day up to $500.00 per day the violation continues.

Light Trespass & Shielding

Lynnwood requires outdoor lighting fixtures within 50 feet of a residential zone to stay under 15 feet high and be shielded so they do not directly illuminate a neighbor's residentially zoned property, under Lynnwood Municipal Code Section 8.40.0510(D).

Key details: Trigger distance: Within 50 feet of a residential zone. Height limit: 15 feet above grade. Shielding rule: No direct illumination of residential property. Mitigation option: Added landscaping for light screening. Governing code: Lynnwood Municipal Code Section 8.40.0510(D).

A fixture that spills light onto a neighboring residential lot or exceeds the 15-foot height limit within the 50-foot buffer is reviewed against the site lighting plan Lynnwood requires at permit submittal. An installation found out of compliance after occupancy is handled through Chapter 1.40 code enforcement: a notice of violation and corrective order first, then civil penalties starting at $100.00 for the first day and rising to $500.00 per day the fixture stays unshielded.

Billboard Lighting

Lynnwood bans erecting any new billboard citywide, and every illuminated sign, including a legally existing billboard, must be shaded or shielded so its brightness is not objectionable to surrounding properties under Lynnwood Municipal Code Sections 8.40.0800(C)(2) and 8.90.0960(C).

Key details: New billboards: Prohibited citywide. Existing billboards: Cannot change advertising method or lighting. Illumination standard: Must not be objectionable to neighbors. Damage threshold: Over 50% value damage forces removal. Removal deadline: 90 days from city notice.

An illuminated sign, including a billboard, that casts objectionable glare on a neighboring property violates Section 8.40.0800(C)(2) and is enforced like any other Unified Development Code violation, starting with a notice and corrective order and civil penalties from $100.00 the first day to $500.00 per day. A billboard illegally altered or not removed within the 90-day notice period under Section 8.90.0960(C) is referred to Chapter 1.40 Code Enforcement for removal and penalty.

Compared to other cities, Lynnwood takes a harder line on billboard lighting. The enforcement and penalty structure reflects that.

The Bottom Line

Lynnwood'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 Lynnwood is broadly strict or permissive.

Keep in mind that Lynnwood 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.