Light Trespass: Bellevue vs Renton
How do light trespass rules compare between Bellevue, WA and Renton, WA?
Bellevue and Renton have similar restriction levels.
Bellevue, WA
King County
Bellevue prohibits lighting that shines onto neighbors or causes glare. Limit is 0.1 foot-candles at residential property lines under LUC 20.20.522.
View full Bellevue rules →Renton, WA
King County
Renton limits light spillover onto neighbor property under RMC 4-4-075, generally to about 0.5 foot-candles at residential property lines. Nuisance lighting complaints are investigated by Code Compliance.
View full Renton rules →Key Facts Comparison
| Fact | Bellevue | Renton |
|---|---|---|
| - | - | |
| Spillover limit | - | About 0.5 foot-candles at residential line |
| Full cutoff | - | Required on non-residential |
| Nuisance | - | RMC Title 1 for excessive lighting |
| Complaints | - | Renton Code Compliance (425) 430-7373 |
| Common law | - | Nuisance remedies under WA law |
Highlighted rows indicate differences between cities.
Bellevue FAQ
Renton FAQ
My neighbors security light shines in my bedroom. What can I do?
Talk with the neighbor first. If that fails, contact Renton Code Compliance to investigate whether it rises to a nuisance under city code.
Is there a specific decibel-like metric for light brightness?
Yes. Light levels are measured in foot-candles or lux at the property line with a calibrated meter during nighttime hours.
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