Outdoor Lighting in Champaign County, IL (2026)

2 rules for unincorporated Champaign County, Illinois.

Verified from official government sources

Note: These county rules apply to unincorporated areas of Champaign County. If you live within an incorporated city, that city's own rules apply: see the city list below.

Dark Sky Rules

Champaign County requires full-cutoff, shielded fixtures on every special use permit that adds exterior lighting. Zoning Ordinance Section 6.1.2 caps lamps at 250 watts, bars fixtures that throw light above the horizontal plane, and makes the Zoning Administrator withhold a Use Permit without proof the fixtures qualify.

Champaign County Full-Cutoff Fixture Rule

Some Restrictions

Champaign County Zoning Ordinance Section 6.1.2.A

A. All SPECIAL USE Permits with exterior lighting shall be required to minimize glare on the adjacent properties and roadways by the following means: 1. All exterior light fixtures shall be full-cutoff type lighting fixtures and shall be located and installed so as to minimize glare and light trespass. Full-cutoff means that the lighting fixture emits no light above the horizontal plane. 2. No ...

Full ordinance details →Official source ↗

Light Trespass & Shielding

Champaign County's Public Nuisance Ordinance makes excess glare onto a neighbor's property a public nuisance. Section 3.2.D bars noise, vibration, glare, heat, odors, dust or electromagnetic fields beyond what is lawfully permitted and customary for the zoning district, letting the county cite an owner whose lighting spills onto adjoining land.

Champaign County Nuisance Glare Rule

Some Restrictions

Champaign County Public Nuisance Ordinance Sections 3.2.D, 6.3 and 6.4

D. Noise, vibration, glare, heat, odors or fumes, dust or electromagnetic fields in excess of that lawfully permitted and customarily associated with uses permitted in the zoning district by the Champaign County Zoning Ordinance. ... The minimum fine for a violation as specified in Section 6.1 shall be $100. ... In such case the penalty for each separate offense shall be a fine of not less than...

Full ordinance details →Official source ↗

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