Outdoor Lighting in Polk County, IA (2026)
3 rules for unincorporated Polk County, Iowa.
Verified from official government sources
Dark Sky Rules
Polk County's zoning ordinance requires every exterior light fixture to use one of three defined cutoff types and caps illumination and pole height for each, from 0.20 footcandles and 10 feet for unshielded residential fixtures up to 4.0 footcandles and 50 feet for fully shielded industrial lighting.
Outdoor Light Shielding Rules in Polk County
Some RestrictionsPolk County Zoning Ordinance, Art. 12, Div. 1, Sec. 4; Tables 12.1-12.3
Exterior lighting shall be a No cutoff, Total cutoff up to ninety (90) degrees, or total cutoff of light at an angle less than ninety (90) degrees. The lighting shall meet the standards set for each type of fixture. ... (A) No Cutoff light fixture ... When a light source or luminary has no cutoff (see illustration below), the maximum permitted illumination and the maximum permitted luminary hei...
Light Trespass & Shielding
Polk County caps outdoor lighting on nonresidential property next to homes at 0.2 footcandles measured at the property line, and requires it to restrict glare and stop spill-over onto adjacent land under Article 12 of the zoning ordinance.
Light Trespass Rules in Unincorporated Polk County
Some RestrictionsPolk County Zoning Ordinance, Art. 12, Div. 1, Sec. 2; Sec. 4(A)(2)
The purpose of this Article is to ensure lighting is safe, restricts glare, and limits light encroachment onto adjacent properties by regulating the spill-over of light and glare on persons operating motor vehicles, pedestrians, and land uses in the proximity of the light source... Section 2. Restrictions (A) No flickering or flashing lights shall be permitted. (B) Light sources or luminaries f...
Billboard Lighting
Every illuminated sign in unincorporated Polk County, including billboards, has to divert glare and keep light from crossing property lines or spilling into the road right-of-way under the zoning ordinance's sign illumination standard.
Billboard and Sign Illumination Rules in Polk County
Light RestrictionsPolk County Zoning Ordinance, Art. 11, Div. 5, Sec. 4; Div. 4, Sec. 2(B)
Section 4. All Illuminated signs. Illuminated signs shall divert glare and keep light from encroaching beyond property boundaries and into the road right-of-way. ... (B) Additional Standards (1) Off-site signs shall also meet the requirements of the Iowa Administrative Code, Transportation Department [761], Chapter 117 Outdoor Advertising.
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