Outdoor Lighting in Portland, OR (2026)
2 verified outdoor lighting rules for Portland, Oregon, sourced directly from the municipal code and official government pages.
Verified from official government sources
Dark Sky Rules
Along the Willamette River, Portland's zoning code bans upward-facing exterior lights and requires full opaque shielding on light fixtures.
Portland Riverfront Lighting Shielding Rule
Some RestrictionsPortland City Code § 33.475.230
General standards. The following standards apply to all exterior lights located within the River General overlay zone. 1. Exterior lights must not project light upward or to the side of the fixture; 2. The top and sides of all exterior light fixtures must be shielded with 100 percent opaque materials; and 3. Lamps must fall below 3000K or within an S/P ratio range of 1 to 1.2.
Light Trespass & Shielding
Portland caps glare from nonresidential lighting at 0.5 foot candles measured on a neighboring property and bans strobe lights visible from adjacent land, under the city's off-site impacts standards for commercial and industrial zones.
Portland Outdoor Lighting Glare Limits
Some RestrictionsPortland City Code § 33.262.080
A. Glare standard. Glare is illumination caused by all types of lighting and from high temperature processes such as welding or metallurgical refining. Glare may not directly, or indirectly from reflection, cause illumination on other properties in excess of a measurement of 0.5 foot candles of light. B. Strobe lights. Strobe lights visible from another property are not allowed.
Looking for Multnomah County county-wide rules?
County ordinances apply to unincorporated areas and may supplement Portland city rules.
Outdoor Lighting in Multnomah County →