Outdoor Lighting in Gaithersburg, MD (2026)
2 verified outdoor lighting rules for Gaithersburg, Maryland, sourced directly from the municipal code and official government pages.
Verified from official government sources
Dark Sky Rules
Gaithersburg requires new and replacement outdoor light fixtures to be full cut-off or directionally shielded so light stays on the intended target and off the property line, and it bans lasers, searchlights, strobe lights, and blinking lights outright, aside from temporary holiday displays.
Gaithersburg Outdoor Lighting Shielding Rules
Some RestrictionsGaithersburg City Code § 24-6.2(D)(1), (E)(1)
(D)Prohibited outdoor lighting. The following outdoor lighting is prohibited:(1)Lasers, searchlights, strobe lights, and blinking lights, excluding temporary holiday lighting;(2)Low-pressure sodium, mercury vapor, or other non-energy efficient light sources as determined by the director of public works or designee.(E)Outdoor lighting standards.(1)Exterior lighting must consist of full cut-off o...
Light Trespass & Shielding
Gaithersburg caps outdoor light spilling onto neighboring land at 0.5 foot-candles measured at the property boundary, and any lighting on a lot next to single-family homes must carry opaque shielding on the residential side of the fixture to cut glare.
Gaithersburg Light Trespass Limits
Some RestrictionsGaithersburg City Code § 24-6.2(E)(3), (F)
(3)Lighting on any property abutting a property that is zoned and/or developed for single-family dwellings, must be equipped with supplemental opaque shielding on the residential property side of the lighting fixture to reduce glare caused by direct light source exposure.(F)Maximum illumination levels. Maximum luminance levels from all interior and exterior light sources shall not exceed one-ha...
Looking for Montgomery County county-wide rules?
County ordinances apply to unincorporated areas and may supplement Gaithersburg city rules.
Outdoor Lighting in Montgomery County →