Outdoor Lighting in Scottsdale, AZ

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

Light Trespass & Shielding

Scottsdale measures light trespass at the property line, six feet above grade, with the meter facing the lit property. Non-residential or multi-family light spilling onto single-family land is capped at 0.3 foot candles, and single-family-to-single-family spillover is capped at 0.1 foot candles under Sec. 7.602.

Key details: Measurement point: property line, 6 feet above grade. Non-residential onto single-family: max 0.3 foot candles. Single-family onto single-family: max 0.1 foot candles. Curfew trigger: fixtures at 2,600+ initial lumens. Curfew hours: 11:00 p.m. to 6:00 a.m..

Light measured above 0.3 foot candles onto neighboring single-family or multi-family land, or above 0.1 foot candles between adjoining single-family lots, exceeds Sec. 7.602's Table 7.602.A.1 maximum. Running a 2,600-lumens-or-greater fixture after 11:00 p.m. or before 6:00 a.m. outside the narrow 15-minute security lighting exception is likewise a violation the Zoning Administrator can require be corrected.

Dark Sky Rules

Scottsdale's Zoning Ordinance requires shields, downward-directed sources, and full cutoff fixtures once a luminaire exceeds 3,050 total initial lumens. Detached single-family homes and their accessory buildings skip Development Review Board review; almost everything else needs DRB sign-off before the fixture goes in.

Key details: DRB approval: required except detached single-family homes. Full cutoff threshold: over 3,050 total initial lumens. Grandfather date: fixtures installed before July 5, 1983. Searchlight hours: 6am-11pm (May-Oct), 7am-10pm (Nov-Apr). Nonstandard lighting: requires Sec. 7.603 use permit.

Outdoor lighting installed without the required DRB approval, or that misses the shield, downward-direction, or full-cutoff standard for its lumen tier, does not comply with Sec. 7.601-7.602. The Zoning Administrator can require retrofitting non-compliant fixtures and any nonstandard lighting must obtain a Sec. 7.603 use permit before operation; building permits for the site can be held up until the lighting plan conforms.

The Bottom Line

Scottsdale'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 Scottsdale is broadly strict or permissive.

All of the above reflects Scottsdale'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.