Washington County, OR Outdoor Lighting: Dark Sky Rules (2026)

Outdoor lighting standards in Washington County are primarily in the Community Development Code §414 and city equivalents. Core requirements: exterior light fixtures must be fully shielded (full-cutoff optics) to prevent glare and skyglow, directed downward, and not trespass onto adjacent residential properties measured at 0.5 foot-candles at the property line. Commercial and industrial zones (Intel campuses, Nike Campus, Nimbus Industrial in Tigard, Tanasbourne retail) must use shielded fixtures and meet maximum foot-candle limits under CDC §414. Parking lot lighting has pole-height limits (typically 20-30 ft) and uniformity ratios. Beaverton BDC 60.05 requires shielded fixtures and transition buffers. Hillsboro CDC 12.40 imposes similar standards near residential zones. Tigard TDC 18.735 applies to commercial and industrial lighting. LED color temperature guidelines (often 3000K or below) are advisory in most jurisdictions but required in some Transit Oriented and residential-adjacent zones. Seasonal/holiday lighting exempt. Sign lighting separately regulated under city sign codes. Sports lighting at THPRD and school fields has specific time limits (typically 10 PM shutoff) and uses directional optics to minimize spill. No full dark-sky International Dark-Sky Association designation in the county, but coordinated efforts exist.