Outdoor Lighting in Glendale, AZ (2026)
3 verified outdoor lighting rules for Glendale, Arizona, sourced directly from the municipal code and official government pages.
Verified from official government sources
Dark Sky Rules
Chapter 26.5 of the Glendale Code requires most outdoor light fixtures to be fully shielded and filtered to control glare and preserve dark skies. High-pressure sodium, metal halide, fluorescent, tungsten, halogen, incandescent, and mercury vapor fixtures must be fully shielded, outdoor recreational lighting must go dark by 11:00 p.m., and violators face a $300-per-day civil fine.
Glendale Outdoor Light Shielding Rules
Some RestrictionsGlendale Code of Ordinances § 26.5-5
(a)All outdoor illuminating devices, except those exempt from this section by section 26.5-7, shall be shielded as set forth below:(1)High pressure sodium, metal halide, fluorescent, tungsten, halogen, incandescent and mercury vapor type lamp fixtures shall be fully shielded.(2)Fluorescent type lamp fixtures used to illuminate outdoor advertising signs shall be mounted at the top of the sign st...
Light Trespass & Shielding
Glendale Code Section 26.5-6(d) bars low-wattage, unshielded outdoor lighting from directing light onto adjacent properties and caps how far flood and spot lights may throw their beam based on the fixture's mounting height. Enforcement runs through the outdoor light controls chapter's $300-per-day civil fine after a 30-day abatement notice.
Glendale Rules Against Light Trespass
Some RestrictionsGlendale Code of Ordinances § 26.5-6(d)
(d)Low wattage, unshielded lighting devices shall not be installed in a manner which will direct light into adjacent properties. Flood and spot lights shall be aimed so the high beam of the light does not exceed a point on the ground adjacent to the structure supporting the flood or spot light, the distance of said point from the structure being equal to the height of the flood or spot light ab...
Billboard Lighting
Glendale forces digital billboards dark overnight and caps their glare at the property line. UDC § 35.4.310(B)(4)(o)-(r) requires illumination to shut off between 11 p.m. and sunrise except for emergency alerts, limits nighttime brightness to 310 foot-candles, and bans spillover above one foot-candle onto a neighboring lot.
Glendale Digital Billboard Lighting Limits
Some RestrictionsGlendale Code of Ordinances § 35.4.310(B)(4)(o)-(r)
o.Digital billboard sign illumination must be extinguished between 11:00 p.m. and sunrise. The only exception to this will be for amber alerts and other governmental emergencies.p.All illuminated digital billboard signs shall have unlimited daytime surface luminosity and shall be limited to 310 foot-candles during nighttime hours.q.All digital billboard signs shall provide for automatic dimming...
Looking for Maricopa County county-wide rules?
County ordinances apply to unincorporated areas and may supplement Glendale city rules.
Outdoor Lighting in Maricopa County →