Outdoor Lighting in Stafford County, VA (2026)

3 rules for unincorporated Stafford County, Virginia.

Verified from official government sources

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

Dark Sky Rules

Stafford County requires full cut-off, fully shielded fixtures for new and replacement outdoor lighting county-wide. Fixtures must include glare-control louvers and be aimed so no more than five percent of their light escapes above the horizontal, cutting the skyglow and glare the ordinance targets.

Stafford County Outdoor Lighting Shielding Rules

Some Restrictions

Stafford County Code § 28-87(c)(2)

(2)Shielding. Full cut-off and fully-shielded lighting fixtures shall be required. Exemptions shall be made for other acceptable outdoor light fixtures. Acceptable outdoor light fixtures shall include those which:a.Are provided with internal and/or external glare control louvers and installed so as to minimize uplight and off-site light trespass.b.Are installed and maintained with aiming angles...

Full ordinance details →Official source ↗

Light Trespass & Shielding

Stafford County caps outdoor lighting spillover at half a footcandle measured at any property line next to a residential or agricultural parcel. The limit applies county-wide to commercial, industrial and multifamily lighting, with a narrow carve-out for pedestrian street lights.

Stafford County Light Trespass Limit Rule

Some Restrictions

Stafford County Code § 28-87(c)(6)

(6)Lighting levels shall not exceed five-tenths (0.5) footcandles at any property line adjacent to a residential or agricultural zoned property except for lighting levels produced by pedestrian street lights.

Full ordinance details →Official source ↗

Billboard Lighting

Stafford County has no billboard-specific lighting rule, but its architectural and landscape lighting standard covers light aimed at any sign mounted on a pole, platform or pedestal. Fixtures must be full cut-off, directionally shielded and aimed so the beam stays confined to the sign itself.

Stafford County Sign Lighting Standards

Some Restrictions

Stafford County Code § 28-87(g)

(g)Architectural and landscape lighting.(1)Lighting used to illuminate statues, flags, signs, or other objects mounted on a pole, platform, or pedestal, or spotlighting or floodlighting used for architectural or landscape purposes, shall be full cut-off and directionally shielded outdoor lighting fixtures that are designed, aimed, and controlled so the directed lights shall be confined to the o...

Full ordinance details →Official source ↗

All Stafford County ordinances

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