Beaverton, OR Outdoor Lighting: Dark Sky Rules (2026)
Key Facts
- Governing rule
- Development Code § 60.05-1, Table 60.05-1
- Shielding trigger
- cutoff angle 90° or less
- Applies to
- new development & redevelopment
- Near Natural Areas
- 0.5-0.7 foot-candle cap, downward shields
- Pole height cap
- 15-30 ft depending on use
Summary
New development and redevelopment in Beaverton must meet the Development Code's Technical Lighting Standards: fixtures need full cutoff or shielding, capped mounting heights, and illumination limits at the property line, with tighter caps near Natural Areas.
When a bollard luminaire, or pole-mounted luminaire, or non-pole-mounted luminaire has total cutoff of light at an angle 90 degrees or less and is located so that the bare light bulb, lamp, or light source is completely shielded from the direct view of an observer 5 feet above the ground at the point where the cutoff angle intersects the ground, then the minimum permitted interior illumination, the maximum permitted illumination 5 feet beyond the property line, and the maximum permitted height of Luminaires is also shown on Table 60.05-1. [ORD 4857; October 2024] [ORD 4859; January 2025]
3. These standards (Section 60.05-1.D.1-2) shall not apply along shared property lines that are under common ownership at the time of submittal, unless the property line abuts a protected Natural Area, unless otherwise approved through a land use application. [ORD 4857; October 2024] [ORD 4859; January 2025]
4. These standards (Section 60.05-1.D.1-2) shall not apply to property lines abutting public right-of-way. [ORD 4857; October 2024]
E. General Provisions. Notwithstanding any other provision of this Section to the contrary:
1. Design Standards for Residential, Commercial, Industrial and Multiple-Use Districts:
a. No flickering or flashing lights shall be permitted.
Full Breakdown
Beaverton Development Code § 60.05.30 and Table 60.05-1 require every bollard, pole-mounted, and non-pole-mounted luminaire on new development or redevelopment in Washington County's City of Beaverton (not unincorporated county land, and not Portland) to either stay under a 90-degree cutoff angle or be fully shielded so the bare bulb isn't visible from 5 feet above grade at the cutoff line. Shielded fixtures get relaxed interior-illumination and property-line-illumination limits and height caps (15-30 feet depending on use). Lighting within or adjacent to a protected Natural Area faces stricter foot-candle ceilings and must direct light downward and away. Compliance is checked at Design Review/permit stage, not retrofitted onto existing homes.
Violations & Fines
A lighting plan that exceeds the cutoff-angle, illumination, or height limits fails Design Review and cannot receive site development or building permit approval until revised.
Frequently Asked Questions
Does Beaverton require shielded outdoor lighting?
Are lighting rules stricter near natural areas in Beaverton?
Sources & Official References
Other rules in Beaverton
Compare Beaverton to another location·View the Oregon outdoor lighting overview
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Dark Sky Rules in Nearby Cities
How other cities in Washington County handle dark sky rules.