Outdoor Lighting in Olmsted County, MN (2026)
3 rules for unincorporated Olmsted County, Minnesota.
Verified from official government sources
Dark Sky Rules
Olmsted County's zoning ordinance caps outdoor light spilling onto public roads at 1.0 foot-candle and onto adjacent property at 0.5 foot-candle, measured at the property line. Commercial and industrial fixtures must carry a full cutoff shield directing light at 90 degrees or less, and pole-mounted lights cannot exceed 25 feet in height. The Zoning Administrator enforces the standard countywide in the unincorporated townships.
Outdoor Lighting Shielding Rules in Olmsted County
Some RestrictionsOlmsted County Code of Ordinances, Ch. 1400 §§ 10.16(C), 10.16(E)(2)(a)
C. Intensity. No light source combination thereof which cast light on a public road shall exceed one (1) foot candle meter reading as measured from the edge of said street pavement or roadway surface nor shall any light source or combination thereof which cast light on adjacent property exceed five-tenths (0.5) foot candles as measured at the property line. ... a. Shielding. The luminaire shall...
Light Trespass & Shielding
Olmsted County's zoning code bans light trespass onto neighboring land: outdoor fixtures in every district it zones must be arranged so no waste light crosses the property line, and lighting in commercial and industrial zones must also carry a 90-degree cutoff shield. A refusal to allow the county's after-dark light-meter test is itself a citable violation.
Light Trespass Rules in Olmsted County
Some RestrictionsOlmsted County Code of Ordinances, Ch. 1400 §§ 10.16(E)(1)(b), 10.16(E)(2)(g)
b. There shall be no waste light, light trespass as shown in Figure A below. Figure A below does not conform to the lighting standard. Figure B may comply with these regulations if the light intensity is in accordance with Article 10 Section 10.16 Subdivision C. ... g. Glare. Direct or reflected glare from high temperature processes such as combustion or welding shall not be visible from any ad...
Billboard Lighting
Olmsted County has no lighting rule written specifically for billboards, but its general exterior lighting standard applies to any light source in any district, including one mounted on an advertising sign. Light hitting a public road cannot exceed one foot-candle, and light spilling onto adjacent property is capped at half a foot-candle at the property line.
Outdoor Lighting Intensity Limits in Olmsted County
Some RestrictionsOlmsted County Code of Ordinances, Ch. 1400 § 10.16.C-D
C. Intensity. No light source combination thereof which cast light on a public road shall exceed one (1) foot candle meter reading as measured from the edge of said street pavement or roadway surface nor shall any light source or combination thereof which cast light on adjacent property exceed five-tenths (0.5) foot candles as measured at the property line. D. Method of Measuring Light Intensit...
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