Tacoma's Outdoor Lighting: The Rules That Matter
Every city handles outdoor lighting a little differently. In Tacoma, 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.
Light Trespass & Shielding
Lighting on non-residential sites in Tacoma cannot exceed 3 lux at the property line of any adjacent residential parcel, measured at the brightest light source visible from that boundary.
Key details: Limit: 3 lux (0.3 foot-candles). Where measured: residential parcel boundary line. Applies to: non-residential sites near R districts. Code section: TMC § 13.06.090J.3.a.
Enforced through Tacoma's land use permit review and code enforcement complaints; noncompliant lighting must be redirected, shielded, or reduced to meet the 3-lux limit at the residential boundary.
Billboard Lighting
Tacoma bans internally illuminated and flashing billboards and requires all billboard lighting to shut off between midnight and 5 a.m.
Key details: Internal illumination: Prohibited outright. Curfew: Off midnight to 5:00 a.m.. Flashing billboards: Prohibited. Lighting direction: Must use cutoff shields, no spillover.
An internally illuminated, flashing, or unshielded billboard, or one left lit between midnight and 5 a.m., violates TMC § 13.06.090I and is enforceable under the Land Use Code Enforcement procedures at TMC § 13.05.150, which can require correction or removal.
This is not one of those rules that cities tend to ignore. Tacoma actively enforces its billboard lighting requirements.
Dark Sky Rules
Outdoor light fixtures within 100 feet of a residential district in Tacoma must use full cutoff luminaires meeting the Illuminating Engineering Society's cutoff distribution spec to control glare.
Key details: Trigger distance: within 100 feet of R District. Standard: IES cutoff light distribution spec. Code section: TMC § 13.06.090J.3.b. Purpose: control and minimize glare.
Reviewed during land use permitting for sites near residential districts; fixtures that don't meet the IES cutoff specification must be replaced or retrofitted before final approval.
The Bottom Line
Tacoma'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 Tacoma is broadly strict or permissive.
These rules come from Tacoma's publicly available municipal code. For complete penalty schedules, exemption details, and answers to common questions, see the individual ordinance pages throughout this guide.