Outdoor Lighting in Rapid City, SD (2026)
2 verified outdoor lighting rules for Rapid City, South Dakota, sourced directly from the municipal code and official government pages.
Verified from official government sources
Light Trespass & Shielding
Rapid City requires outdoor lighting to be directed away from residential districts and away from public rights-of-way. Rapid City Municipal Code Section 17.50.310 exempts street lighting and traffic signals but applies to every other fixture that could throw glare onto a neighbor's residential property or create a hazard on the street.
Rapid City Light Trespass Rule
Light RestrictionsRapid City Municipal Code § 17.50.310
Lighting of all types, excluding street lighting and traffic signals, shall be directed so as to reflect away from all residential districts, and shall be so situated so as not to reflect directly onto any public rights-of-way, so as to create a traffic hazard.
Billboard Lighting
Off-premises signs (billboards) in Rapid City must direct light away from adjacent properties and traffic under § 17.50.090C, and any internally illuminated or digital sign face must carry automatic dimming technology capped at 0.3 foot-candles above ambient light under § 17.50.080N.
Billboard lighting limits in Rapid City
Some RestrictionsRapid City Municipal Code §§ 17.50.080N, 17.50.090C
N. Sign brightness. 1. Any sign that is internally illuminated, or which displays electronic variable messages through light emitting diodes, liquid crystal display, plasma image display, or any other light emitting mechanism must be equipped with automatic dimming technology that automatically adjusts the display’s brightness based upon ambient light conditions. The brightness level for signs ...