Outdoor Lighting in Champaign, IL (2026)
2 verified outdoor lighting rules for Champaign, Illinois, sourced directly from the municipal code and official government pages.
Verified from official government sources
Dark Sky Rules
Within the Curtis Road Interchange Area Overlay District, the city's primary entryway from Interstate 57, Champaign requires all private exterior lighting on new development, building-mounted and parking lot fixtures alike, to meet International Dark Sky Association and IESNA 2011 Model Lighting Ordinance standards under Sec. 37-619.6. Parking lot luminaires cannot exceed 26 feet, must be fully shielded, and must carry Dark Sky Compliant certification, with LED required.
Champaign Curtis Road Overlay Dark-Sky Lighting
Some RestrictionsChampaign Municipal Code § 37-619.6, Table XI-F, Site Plan Design Requirements 5.0 & 5.3 (Lighting)
5.0 All private exterior lighting, including lighting on buildings as well as parking lot lights, shall at a minimum, meet the requirements set forth by the International Dark Sky Association and the Illuminating Engineering Society of North America in their 2011 Model Lighting Ordinance. ... 5.3 Parking lot lighting shall be mounted no higher than twenty-six (26) feet high and shall be fully s...
Light Trespass & Shielding
In the Curtis Road Interchange Area Overlay District, Champaign caps under-canopy lighting, gas station and drive-through canopies, at 5 footcandles during business hours and 1 footcandle after hours, measured at the property line, and requires photometric plans capping light spilling onto adjacent residential land at 0.2 footcandles under Sec. 37-619.6.
Champaign Canopy & Property-Line Light Limits
Some RestrictionsChampaign Municipal Code § 37-619.6, Table XI-F, Site Plan Design Requirements 5.2 & 5.4 (Lighting)
5.2 Under-canopy lighting shall be fully recessed into the canopy to minimize light trespass. During business hours, canopy lighting shall not exceed five (5) footcandles. After business hours, canopy lighting shall not exceed one footcandle. Lighting level shall be measured at the property line. ... 5.4 Photometric lighting plans shall show maximum average lighting levels per lot of five (5) f...
Looking for Champaign County county-wide rules?
County ordinances apply to unincorporated areas and may supplement Champaign city rules.
Outdoor Lighting in Champaign County →