Outdoor Lighting in Ramsey County, MN (2026)
2 county-level rules, plus city-specific rules for 1 city in Ramsey County, Minnesota.
Verified from official government sources
Dark Sky Rules
Ramsey County has no dark-sky ordinance. Exterior lighting and glare are municipal zoning matters under Minn. Stat. 462.357. St. Paul and other east-metro cities set lighting standards (shielding, height, glare) in their zoning codes. There is no countywide dark-sky rule.
Outdoor lighting is regulated by your city
Some RestrictionsMinn. Stat. 462.357, subd. 1
For the purpose of promoting the public health, safety, morals, and general welfare, a municipality may by ordinance regulate ... the location, height, width, bulk, type of foundation, number of stories, size of buildings and other structures ... and may establish standards and procedures regulating such uses.
Light Trespass & Shielding
Ramsey County sets no light-trespass rule. Whether a neighbor's light spilling onto your property violates a standard is decided by city zoning codes under Minn. Stat. 462.357. Many cities cap illumination measured at the property line. There is no countywide light-trespass ordinance.
Light trespass onto neighbors is a city matter
Some RestrictionsMinn. Stat. 462.357, subd. 1
For the purpose of promoting the public health, safety, morals, and general welfare, a municipality may by ordinance regulate ... the location, height, width, bulk ... of buildings and other structures, the percentage of lot which may be occupied ... and may establish standards and procedures regulating such uses.
Outdoor Lighting by City in Ramsey County
1 cities in Ramsey County have their own outdoor lighting rules. Each link goes to that city's dedicated page with code citations.
All Ramsey County ordinances
See every category we cover for Ramsey County: parking, noise, fences, fires, animals, pools, and more.
Ramsey County Ordinance Hub →