Outdoor Lighting in St. Joseph County, IN (2026)

2 rules for unincorporated St. Joseph County, Indiana.

Verified from official government sources

Note: These county rules apply to unincorporated areas of St. Joseph County. If you live within an incorporated city, that city's own rules apply: see the city list below.

Dark Sky Rules

St. Joseph County's zoning code requires every outdoor light fixture serving a multi-family, commercial, industrial, planned-unit or special-use property in the unincorporated county to be full cutoff, cutoff or semi-cutoff and mounted parallel to the ground on a rigid arm with no built-in uptilt, per Zoning Ordinance § 154.351(D). Table 154-3 caps full cutoff poles at 40 feet and 1,000 watts, with lower limits for less-shielded fixture types.

St. Joseph County Outdoor Light Fixture Shielding Rules

Some Restrictions

St. Joseph County, IN Zoning Ordinance § 154.351(C)-(E)

(3)Lighting standards. Outdoor light fixtures shall comply with the standards set forth in table 154-3.(4)Mounting of fixtures (except in industrial districts). Full cutoff, cutoff and semi-cutoff outdoor light fixtures shall be mounted parallel to the ground and shall utilize a rigid mounting arm with no built-in uptilt and no adjustment feature.(5)Height of fixtures. All outdoor light fixture...

Full ordinance details →Official source ↗

Light Trespass & Shielding

St. Joseph County limits floodlights and other outdoor fixtures so their beam cannot spill onto a neighbor's land or a public road. Under Zoning Ordinance § 154.351(K), a floodlight must be aimed at the building it illuminates, or shielded so its main beam is never visible from, or causes glare on, an adjacent property or right-of-way; § 154.351(J) applies the same rule to architectural and sign lighting facing a road.

St. Joseph County Floodlight and Light Trespass Rules

Some Restrictions

St. Joseph County, IN Zoning Ordinance § 154.351(J)-(K)

(10)Glare on public right-of-way. Flag and statue lights, architectural lights, floodlights or sign lighting shall be so directed and shielded that the light element is not visible from any point along an adjacent public right-of-way.(11)Floodlights. Outdoor light fixtures equipped with floodlights may only be permitted on a lot as follows:(a)Floodlights shall be focused on the primary building...

Full ordinance details →Official source ↗

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