Light Trespass: Arvada vs Lakewood
How do light trespass rules compare between Arvada, CO and Lakewood, CO?
Arvada and Lakewood have similar restriction levels.
Arvada, CO
Jefferson County
Arvada prohibits outdoor lighting that causes unreasonable glare or illumination on neighboring properties. Light trespass complaints are handled through code enforcement.
View full Arvada rules →Lakewood, CO
Jefferson County
Jeffco Section 12 requires that luminaires and their supporting structure be wholly confined to the property, and it caps light measured at the property line. Residential/agricultural uses adjacent to similar uses may not exceed 0.2 foot-candles in the mountains or 0.3 in the plains at the property line.
View full Lakewood rules →Key Facts Comparison
| Fact | Arvada | Lakewood |
|---|---|---|
| Property Line | 0.5 to 1.0 fc maximum | - |
| Security Lights | Must be aimed/shielded | - |
| Enforcement | Complaint-driven | - |
| Topic | Light Trespass | - |
| Core rule | - | Fixtures confined wholly to property |
| Residential limit (mtn) | - | 0.2 foot-candles at line |
| Residential limit (plains) | - | 0.3 foot-candles at line |
| Near passive recreation | - | 0.1 foot-candles |
| Measurement | - | Foot-candles, ground level |
Highlighted rows indicate differences between cities.
Arvada FAQ
My neighbor's floodlight shines into my bedroom. What can I do?
File a light trespass complaint with Arvada code enforcement. Most codes require lights to be shielded and aimed so they don't illuminate neighboring properties.
Are holiday lights exempt from light trespass rules?
Temporary holiday displays are often exempt during the holiday season, typically November through January. However, they still cannot create a safety hazard.
Lakewood FAQ
My neighbor's light shines onto my yard - is that allowed?
Section 12 requires luminaires to be confined to the owner's property and caps light at the property line (0.2-0.3 foot-candles for residential), so excessive spillover can be a violation.
How is light trespass measured?
It's measured in foot-candles with a meter held horizontally at ground level on the property line, summing all on-site lighting including sign lighting and interior spillage.
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