Outdoor Lighting in Bellingham, WA (2026)
2 verified outdoor lighting rules for Bellingham, Washington, sourced directly from the municipal code and official government pages.
Verified from official government sources
Dark Sky Rules
Large retail buildings in Bellingham, Washington must shield and aim outdoor lighting downward: upward-directed lighting is prohibited outright under the city's large retail facility design standards in Whatcom County.
Bellingham Bans Upward-Directed Outdoor Lighting
Some RestrictionsBellingham Municipal Code § 20.25.060(B)(6)(a)
All outdoor lighting shall be sized and directed to avoid adverse impact and spillover onto adjacent properties. Upward directed lighting is prohibited. Outside parking lot lighting shall not be less than one footcandle per IES minimum lighting standards at the property line, and shall be designed to minimize glare and spillover onto adjacent properties. Building and aesthetic lighting must be ...
Light Trespass & Shielding
In Bellingham's Fountain District urban village, exterior building and aesthetic lighting can't exceed 1.5 footcandles of glare or light trespass at the property line, with separate wattage caps for wall-pack floodlights and gas station canopy lights.
Bellingham Fountain District Lighting Cap
Some RestrictionsBellingham Municipal Code § 20.37.280(C)(1)-(2)
Building and aesthetic lighting must be shielded to prevent direct glare and/or light trespass in excess of one and one-half footcandles at the property line, except along Meridian Street in the commercial core. Wall packs (flood lights) on buildings may be used at entrances... Wall packs must be fully shielded to direct the light downward. Maximum bulb wattage is 100 watts.
Looking for Whatcom County county-wide rules?
County ordinances apply to unincorporated areas and may supplement Bellingham city rules.
Outdoor Lighting in Whatcom County →