Sandy's Outdoor Lighting: The Rules That Matter

Every city handles outdoor lighting a little differently. In Sandy, Utah, 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.

Light Trespass & Shielding

Sandy bans unshielded floodlights, spotlights and wall-pack fixtures that point toward the street or spill glare past the property line. Section 21-23-11 requires all commercial, office and industrial site lighting to be shielded and aimed downward so neighboring properties are not affected.

Key details: Governing section: Sandy City Code § 21-23-11. Wall packs: Unshielded wall-mounted floodlights prohibited. Direction rule: Shielded, directed downward, no spill past lot line. Parking lots: Pole-mounted fixtures required. Applies to: Commercial, office, industrial, transit corridor sites.

Installing or operating unshielded wall-pack floodlights, or any spotlight/reflector/strobe/search light aimed toward a public right-of-way or spilling glare past the property line, violates § 21-23-11 and is cited during site plan review or code compliance inspection; the Director can require re-aiming, shielding retrofits, or fixture replacement before a certificate of occupancy issues or as a follow-up compliance order.

Dark Sky Rules

Sandy City bars unshielded lights, floodlights, and wall packs from pointing toward public rights-of-way at commercial and industrial sites, requiring all fixtures to be shielded and directed downward to keep light spill inside the property line under Sandy City Code Section 21-23-11.

Key details: Wall packs (unshielded floodlights): Prohibited outright. Direction requirement: Shielded, aimed downward. Spill limit: Must stop at property line. Parking lot fixtures: Pole-mounted required. Governing section: Sandy City Code § 21-23-11.

Lighting plans are checked against the approved site plan at the time of development and again under the general maintenance duty in Section 21-23-13, which requires site improvements including lighting to stay consistent with what was approved. An unshielded wall pack or a fixture spilling light across a property line is a code violation subject to Sandy's default penalty in Sections 1-2-2 and 1-2-3: a Class B misdemeanor carrying up to a $1,000 fine for an individual, $5,000 for a corporation, and up to six months in jail.

The Bottom Line

Sandy'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 Sandy is broadly strict or permissive.

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