Outdoor Lighting in El Paso County, CO (2026)
3 county-level rules, plus city-specific rules for 1 city in El Paso County, Colorado.
Verified from official government sources
Dark Sky Rules
El Paso County requires most outdoor light fixtures to be full cutoff, concealed, and aimed no higher than 90 degrees so light does not spill upward or onto neighbors.
El Paso County Full-Cutoff Lighting Rule
Some RestrictionsEl Paso County Land Development Code Sec. 6.2.3(B)(1)(a)
Light fixtures shall be arranged and positioned such that the light sources are concealed and fully shielded so that no direct light or reflection creates a nuisance or hazard to any adjacent ownership or right-of-way and that up-light, spill-light, glare, and unnecessary diffusion are minimized. Light fixtures, except as otherwise permitted herein, are required to be full cutoff as defined by ...
Light Trespass & Shielding
El Paso County caps site lighting at 0.1 foot candles at the property line next to residential land or a right-of-way, and requires house-side shielding near homes.
El Paso County Light Trespass Limit
Some RestrictionsEl Paso County Land Development Code Sec. 6.2.3(B)(1)(e)
Light levels measured at the property line of the development site adjacent to residential property or public right of way shall not exceed 0.1 foot candles as a direct result of the on-site lighting. All light fixtures mounted within 15' of any residential property line of the site shall be classified as IES Type II or Type III, or fixture demonstrated to provide similar distribution patterns ...
Billboard Lighting
Electronic message billboards in unincorporated El Paso County must auto-dim to no more than 500 NIT at night, cutting brightness 5-25% depending on sign resolution under the Land Development Code's off-premise sign standards.
El Paso County Billboard Brightness Limit
Some RestrictionsEl Paso County Land Development Code § 6.2.9(B)(3)(c)(vi)
Brightness (to include auto dimming). Unless otherwise varied by the special use, all electronic message displays shall be equipped with technology that automatically dims the electronic message displays according to ambient light conditions to a luminance, or nighttime brightness level of up to 500 NIT, whic...
Outdoor Lighting by City in El Paso County
1 cities in El Paso County have their own outdoor lighting rules. Each link goes to that city's dedicated page with code citations.
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