Outdoor Lighting in DuPage County, IL (2026)
3 county-level rules, plus city-specific rules for 1 city in DuPage County, Illinois.
Verified from official government sources
Dark Sky Rules
Unincorporated DuPage County caps exposed light sources at one-half foot-candle at residential lot lines and three foot-candles within nonresidential lots, and requires glare shielding under Zoning Ordinance Section 37-1010(B). The rule applies only outside Naperville, Wheaton and the county's other home-rule cities, which write their own lighting codes.
DuPage County Outdoor Lighting Foot-Candle Caps
Some RestrictionsDuPage County Code of Ordinances § 37-1010(B)
B.Light: Exposed Sources of Light:1.In all districts, all activities or operations producing light shall be conducted in accordance with the following requirements:a.Exposed sources of light shall be controlled so that direct and indirect illumination at the lot lines shall not cause illumination in excess of one-half (½) foot-candle in residential districts; andb.Exposed sources of light shall...
Light Trespass & Shielding
DuPage County's zoning ordinance makes every exposed light source in unincorporated areas, including yard and security lights, shield its glare from spilling onto neighboring lots, roads, or access easements, with hard foot-candle caps measured right at the lot line.
DuPage County Security Light Shielding Rule
Some RestrictionsDuPage County Code § 37-1010
Exposed sources of light shall be controlled so that direct and indirect illumination at the lot lines shall not cause illumination in excess of one-half ((1/2)) foot-candle in residential districts; and ... Exposed sources of light shall be shielded in such a way that the light source shall not create harmful glare that is deleterious to adjacent properties or a road, road right of way or acce...
Billboard Lighting
Every illuminated sign in unincorporated DuPage County, billboards included, has to use diffused or indirect light that cannot reflect past the zoning lot's boundary or shine more than 10 feet above grade, under Zoning Ordinance Section 37-1103(A)(15).
DuPage County Sign & Billboard Illumination Rule
Some RestrictionsDuPage County Zoning Ordinance § 37-1103(A)(15)
15.Illumination: The illumination of signs shall be diffused or indirect and shall be so treated that no direct rays shall be reflected: a) outside the boundary of the zoning lot on which the sign is located; or b) more than ten feet (10′) above grade.
Outdoor Lighting by City in DuPage County
1 cities in DuPage County have their own outdoor lighting rules. Each link goes to that city's dedicated page with code citations.
All DuPage County ordinances
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