Bannock County, ID Outdoor Lighting: Dark Sky Rules (2026)
Key Facts
- Shielding direction
- Down toward ground surface
- Floodlights
- Cannot shine at sky or roadways
- Residential/mixed-use pole height
- 15 feet maximum
- Commercial pole height
- 30 feet maximum
- Industrial pole height
- 45 feet maximum
- Plan review required
- All uses except single/two-family homes
Summary
Every private land use in unincorporated Bannock County must shield outdoor lighting so it points down toward the ground, not up into the sky or onto reflective surfaces. Floodlights get an extra rule: they must be arranged so they never shine toward roadways, neighboring land, or directly into the night sky.
1.All lights shall be shielded in such a way as to direct all light toward the earth's surface and away from reflective surfaces. ... 7.Any facilities that require floodlighting shall arrange the lights in such a way that they do not shine toward roadways, adjacent properties, or directly into the night sky.
Full Breakdown
Bannock County Code § 17.52.480 opens with a stated purpose: protecting public health and safety, cutting glare, and reducing light pollution while conserving energy without sacrificing security (17.52.480(A)). The operative shielding rule in subsection (B)(1) applies to every private land use in every zoning district and requires all outdoor lights to be shielded so their light is directed down at the ground and away from reflective surfaces, not outward or upward. Subsection (B)(7) adds a specific rule for floodlighting used on ballfields, lots, or building facades: the fixtures must be arranged so the beam never points toward roadways, adjacent properties, or straight into the night sky.
Other subsections reinforce the dark-sky intent: canopy lighting at gas stations and similar businesses must use recessed fixtures with diffusers that do not extend past the canopy surface (B.3), and any pole- or building-mounted luminaire must have a shield, an adjustable reflector, and a non-protruding diffuser (B.5). Pole height is also capped by district, at 15 feet in residential and mixed-use districts, 30 feet in commercial districts, and 45 feet in industrial districts (B.4). Anyone installing or changing outdoor lighting on a commercial, industrial, or multi-family project must submit fixture location, height, and dimension plans to Planning and Development Services for approval before installation; single-family and two-family homes are exempt from that plan review (C).
Violations & Fines
A lighting installation that fails to shield its glare or points floodlights into the sky is enforced the same way as any other Title 17 zoning violation, under Bannock County Code § 17.56.030. The planning director is the enforcement officer, a first infraction is a flat $50 fine, a repeat infraction is $100, and two prior convictions within 24 months turn the next violation into a misdemeanor carrying up to $300 and six months in jail. Each day of noncompliance counts separately.
Frequently Asked Questions
Does Bannock County require outdoor lights to be shielded?
Are floodlights regulated for light pollution in Bannock County?
How tall can a light pole be in unincorporated Bannock County?
Do homeowners need a lighting plan approved by the county?
Sources & Official References
Other rules in Bannock County
Compare Bannock County to another location·View the Idaho outdoor lighting overview
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