Kane County, IL Outdoor Lighting: Dark Sky Rules (2026)
Key Facts
- Governing section
- KCZO 25-14-1-6
- Spillover limit
- 0.5 lumens/sq ft
- Design standard
- No direct illumination or glare
- Lighting plan
- Required for site development
- Residential dark-sky rule
- None (nuisance applies)
Summary
Kane County requires outdoor lighting for parking and site facilities to be designed so it does not produce direct illumination, glare, or excessive light onto surrounding property. Spillover lighting onto adjacent property may not exceed 0.5 lumens per square foot. There is no formal dark-sky ordinance for single homes.
Lighting installed for the purpose of illuminating off street parking facilities shall be designed so that it does not produce direct illumination, cause glare or excessive light onto surrounding public and private property. ... Spillover lighting onto adjacent property shall not exceed 0.5 lumens per square foot.
Official source re-checked September 7, 2026: no newer edition of the code had been published (publisher’s edition: 2026 S-17: Code current through: Ord. 26-183, passed 4-14-2026).
Full Breakdown
Zoning Ordinance Section 25-14-1-6 governs site lighting: fixtures illuminating off-street parking must be designed so they do not cast direct illumination, glare, or excessive light onto neighboring public and private property, and applicants submit a lighting plan (fixture type, pole height, photometrics). Spillover onto adjacent property is capped at 0.5 lumens per square foot. These standards apply to commercial and institutional site development rather than ordinary residential yard lights, and Kane County has not adopted a comprehensive residential dark-sky ordinance. Excessive residential lighting is instead addressed through nuisance/glare provisions.
Violations & Fines
Lighting exceeding the 0.5-lumen spillover limit or causing glare is a zoning-plan violation; the county can require re-aiming, shielding, or fixture changes.
Frequently Asked Questions
Is there a dark-sky ordinance in Kane County?
How much light can spill onto my neighbor?
Sources & Official References
Other rules in Kane County
Compare Kane County to another location·View the Illinois outdoor lighting overview
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