Pima County, AZ Outdoor Lighting: Dark Sky Rules (2026)
Key Facts
- Adopted code
- 2012 Tucson/Pima Outdoor Lighting Code
- Citation
- Pima County Code § 15.12.010
- Authority
- A.R.S. §§ 11-861, 11-251(35)
- Scope
- Unincorporated Pima County only
- Violation class
- Civil infraction, § 15.04.050
Summary
Pima County adopted the 2012 City of Tucson/Pima County Outdoor Lighting Code as its own law, applying dark-sky shielding and fixture standards to new outdoor lighting across the unincorporated county surrounding Tucson.
Under authority of both A.R.S. § 11-861 and A.R.S. § 11-251(35), the 2012 City of Tucson/Pima County Outdoor Lighting Code, adopted by the city of Tucson, is adopted and incorporated by reference as the outdoor lighting code for Pima County, as set forth in Exhibit A, attached to Ordinance 2012-14. (Ord. 2012-14, § 2, 2012; Ord. 2006-91 § 13 (part), 2006; Ord. 2004-98 § 2, 2004; Ord. 2001-138 § 2, 2001; Ord. 2000-63 § 3, 2000; Ord. 1995-98 § 5 (part), 1996; Ord. 1993-81 § 2 (part), 1993)
Official source re-checked September 7, 2026: no newer edition of the code had been published (publisher’s edition: 2026 S-64: Contains Supplement, with local legislation through Ordinance 2026-9, passed 7-28-2026, current through 7-28-2026).
Full Breakdown
Under A.R.S. § 11-861 and § 11-251(35), Pima County Code § 15.12.010 incorporates by reference the 2012 City of Tucson/Pima County Outdoor Lighting Code as the county's outdoor lighting law for the unincorporated area. Tucson, Marana, Oro Valley, Sahuarita and South Tucson each administer their own separate version. The detailed shielding, lumens and curfew standards live in the incorporated Exhibit A to Ordinance 2012-14 rather than the county code text itself; copies are kept on file with the clerk of the board of supervisors and at Development Services, 201 N. Stone Avenue, per § 15.12.020.
Violations & Fines
Violating any provision of the Pima County building code, including the outdoor lighting chapter, is a civil infraction under § 15.04.050, enforced through the county hearing officer process with penalties capped by A.R.S. § 11-815.
Frequently Asked Questions
Does Pima County have its own dark-sky lighting law?
Does this apply inside Tucson city limits?
Sources & Official References
Other rules in Pima County
Compare Pima County to another location·View the Arizona outdoor lighting overview
See something wrong?
Help us keep this page accurate. If you notice an error or outdated information, let us know.