Outdoor Lighting in Dayton, OH (2026)
3 verified outdoor lighting rules for Dayton, Ohio, sourced directly from the municipal code and official government pages.
Verified from official government sources
Dark Sky Rules
Dayton's zoning code requires new outdoor lighting citywide to be full cut-off, shielded so all light projects below a horizontal plane at the fixture's lowest point, with exemptions for small seasonal, temporary and pre-2006 fixtures.
Dayton Full Cut-Off Fixture Mandate
Some RestrictionsDayton R.C.G.O. § 150.420.3(A)(2) & (C)(1)(a) (Zoning Code)
(2) Full-shielded or full cut-off type fixture. An outdoor lighting fixture that is shielded or constructed so that all light emitted is projected below a horizontal plane running through the lowest light-emitting part of the fixture. ... (a) Full-cutoff fixtures shall be installed and maintained so that the shielding is effective as described in sub-section 150.420.03 (A)(2) above.
Light Trespass & Shielding
Dayton's zoning code requires outdoor lighting, including security lighting, to be full cut-off/shielded, caps light trespass at 0.5 footcandles at the property line, and limits after-hours lighting near residential districts to the minimum needed for safety or security.
Dayton Requires Full Cut-Off Outdoor Lighting
Some RestrictionsDayton Zoning Code § 150.420.3(C) (Exterior Lighting Standards) — R.C.G.O. Ch. 150
All outdoor lighting fixtures regulated according to this sub-section, including but not limited to those used for parking areas, buildings, building overhangs, canopies, signs, billboards, displays and landscaping, shall be full cut-off type fixtures... Light trespass over a property line shall be limited to no more than 0.5 footcandles at the property line. All on-site lighting of buildings, ...
Billboard Lighting
Dayton's zoning code requires billboards, signs and displays to use full cut-off outdoor lighting fixtures, with a narrow exemption for internally lit signs and small incandescent lamps under 25 watts.
Dayton Billboard Full Cut-Off Rule
Some RestrictionsDayton R.C.G.O. § 150.420.3(C)(1) & (C)(1)(c) (Zoning Code)
(1) All outdoor lighting fixtures regulated according to this sub-section, including but not limited to those used for parking areas, buildings, building overhangs, canopies, signs, billboards, displays and landscaping, shall be full cut-off type fixtures. ... (c) Signs that are wholly illuminated from within and freestanding signs that are externally illuminated with an exposed incandescent la...
Looking for Montgomery County county-wide rules?
County ordinances apply to unincorporated areas and may supplement Dayton city rules.
Outdoor Lighting in Montgomery County →