Outdoor Lighting in Rio Rancho, NM (2026)
2 verified outdoor lighting rules for Rio Rancho, New Mexico, sourced directly from the municipal code and official government pages.
Verified from official government sources
Dark Sky Rules
Every outdoor fixture installed in Rio Rancho since 2014 must be hooded, shielded, and aimed downward under the city's dark-sky ordinance, adopted alongside the state Night Sky Protection Act.
Rio Rancho Dark-Sky Shielding Requirement
Some RestrictionsRio Rancho City Code § 159.07(A)
Outdoor lighting must be hooded, shielded and aimed downward. Examples of acceptable and unacceptable light shielding and hooding are shown in Tables 1 through 6 attached to the ordinance codified in this chapter.[1] [1] Code reviser’s note: Tables referenced in this chapter are on file in the City Clerk’s office and are available for review upon request. (B) The hood and/or shield must ma...
Light Trespass & Shielding
Rio Rancho bans upward-escaping light from outdoor fixtures. Every light must be hooded and aimed straight down at the ground, with no glow permitted to leak into the night sky.
Rio Rancho Light Pollution Outdoor Lighting Rule
Some RestrictionsRio Rancho City Code § 159.07(B)
The hood and/or shield must mask the direct horizontal surface of the light source. The light must be aimed to ensure the illumination is only pointing downward onto the ground surface, with no upward escaping light permitted to contribute to light pollution; (C) Existing fixtures may be adapted to comply with this section by adding a properly designed hood or shield, or by pointing any upwa...
Looking for Sandoval County county-wide rules?
County ordinances apply to unincorporated areas and may supplement Rio Rancho city rules.
Outdoor Lighting in Sandoval County →