Outdoor Lighting in Eugene, OR (2026)
3 verified outdoor lighting rules for Eugene, Oregon, sourced directly from the municipal code and official government pages.
Verified from official government sources
Dark Sky Rules
Eugene bans high pressure sodium, mercury vapor and floodlight fixtures in its Intrinsically Dark Areas and Low Ambient Light Areas, the natural-resource and low-density residential zones under EC 9.6725(4). Decorative lasers, continuously flashing lights and searchlights are prohibited citywide. Where high pressure sodium lights are allowed elsewhere, each fixture is capped at 2,250 initial lumens.
Eugene Dark-Sky Lighting Restrictions
Significant RestrictionsEC 9.6725(4)
(4) Prohibited Types of Lights. Decorative lasers, continuously flashing lights and searchlights are prohibited. In Intrinsically Dark Areas and Low Ambient Light Areas, as defined in EC 9.6725(8), high pressure sodium lights, mercury vapor lights, and flood lights are prohibited, except when used to illuminate walkways and bikepaths in compliance with applicable standards. High pressure sodium...
Light Trespass & Shielding
Eugene requires most outdoor lighting fixtures to be cutoff and shielded so light stays within the boundaries of the development site where it's installed, under EC 9.6725(3). Fixtures that illuminate signs, including signs mounted on a building, must be top-mounted and shielded to aim light downward onto the sign only, keeping glare and spillover off neighboring properties and public streets.
Eugene Light Trespass Shielding Requirement
Some RestrictionsEC 9.6725(3)
(3) Shielding. All lighting fixtures subject to a lighting permit shall be cutoff and additional shielding shall be required, as necessary, to direct the light within the boundaries of the development site. Fixtures for exterior illumination of signs, including signs attached to a building, shall be top-mounted as well as shielded to aim the light downward onto the sign only.
Billboard Lighting
Digital billboards along Eugene's highway commercial corridors can't exceed an internal illumination intensity of 0.3 foot-candles over ambient light, measured 150 feet from the sign face, under EC 9.6675(7)(e). Every digital billboard must carry a light sensor that automatically dims or brightens the display to match ambient conditions, per EC 9.6675(7)(f), preventing the sign from glaring at night or washing out in daylight.
Eugene Digital Billboard Brightness Limit
Some RestrictionsEC 9.6675(7)(e)-(f)
(e) The digital billboard shall operate at an internal illumination intensity level of not more than 0.3 foot-candles over ambient light levels as measured from a distance of 150 feet perpendicular to the sign face. (f) The digital billboard shall be equipped with a light sensor that automatically adjusts the intensity of the billboard according to the amount of ambient light. (g) The digital b...
Looking for Lane County county-wide rules?
County ordinances apply to unincorporated areas and may supplement Eugene city rules.
Outdoor Lighting in Lane County →