Outdoor Lighting in San Antonio, TX (2026)
3 verified outdoor lighting rules for San Antonio, Texas, sourced directly from the municipal code and official government pages.
Verified from official government sources
Dark Sky Rules
San Antonio requires full-cutoff fixtures on residential lighting that reaches the property line, and caps parking-lot light poles at 15 to 30 feet depending on the fixture's cutoff angle, under UDC Sec. 35-392. Every light source must be shielded so its output stays off adjacent residential land and out of traffic.
San Antonio Outdoor Lighting Cutoff Rules
Some RestrictionsSan Antonio Unified Development Code § 35-392
(a)Lighting facilities used to light signs, parking areas, or for other purposes, including high intensity residential lighting and light from residentially used properties, shall be so arranged that the source if light is concealed from adjacent residential properties. It shall be arranged so that it does not interfere with traffic.1.All lighting fixtures installed on any residential property ...
Light Trespass & Shielding
San Antonio's Unified Development Code requires outdoor lighting for signs, parking, and other uses to be arranged so the light source is concealed from adjacent residential properties. Fixtures on residential property that produce any measurable foot-candles at the property line must be full cutoff, blocking light output above 90 degrees. Parking and loading area lights face height caps tied to how sharply they cut off glare.
San Antonio Outdoor Lighting Must Not Spill Onto Neighbors
Some RestrictionsSan Antonio Unified Development Code Sec. 35-392(a)-(b)
(a)Lighting facilities used to light signs, parking areas, or for other purposes, including high intensity residential lighting and light from residentially used properties, shall be so arranged that the source if light is concealed from adjacent residential properties. It shall be arranged so that it does not interfere with traffic.1.All lighting fixtures installed on any residential property ...
Billboard Lighting
San Antonio caps how bright a digital sign or billboard can glow under Code of Ordinances Sec. 28-43: full-color displays can't exceed 7,000 nits by day or 2,500 nits at night, with lower ceilings for single-color reds, greens, and ambers. Every digital display also needs a dimmer and photocell, and light reaching the nearest home can't exceed 0.2 footcandles.
San Antonio Digital Sign Brightness Limits (NITS)
Some RestrictionsSan Antonio Code of Ordinances Sec. 28-43
(6)Digital display light intensity exceeding the following intensity levels (nits) constitutes "excessive intensity or brilliance": Intensity Levels (NITS): Red Only Daytime 3150 Nighttime 1125; Green Only Daytime 6300 Nighttime 2250; Amber Only Daytime 4690 Nighttime 1675; Full Color Daytime 7000 Nighttime 2500. (7)In addition to the maximum intensity levels (NITS) listed above, all digital di...
Looking for Bexar County county-wide rules?
County ordinances apply to unincorporated areas and may supplement San Antonio city rules.
Outdoor Lighting in Bexar County →