Boone County, IN Outdoor Lighting: Dark Sky Rules (2026)
Key Facts
- Design standard
- Lighting must match building/land use
- Glare rule
- Spot/flood lights must be shielded
- Banned
- Excessive brightness, flashing, brilliant colors
- Governing section
- Boone County Code § 157.032
- Default penalty
- Up to $2,500 first, $7,500 repeat (§ 10.99)
Summary
Outdoor lighting in unincorporated Boone County, Indiana must match the design of the building and surrounding land use under Code § 157.032, and any spot or flood light has to be shielded so it doesn't spill onto neighboring properties. Flashing lights, brilliant colors and excessive brightness are barred outright.
Any person, firm or corporation who violates any provision of this code for which another penalty is not specifically provided shall, upon conviction, be subject to the following: (1) A fine not exceeding $2,500 for the first violation; and (2) A fine not exceeding $7,500 for second and subsequent violations, except for violations of ordinances regulating traffic and parking. ... In any district, outdoor lighting, where provided, shall be shall be of a design and size that is harmonious with the design of the building, the type of land use and the type of adjacent land uses. If external spot or flood lighting is used, the light source should be shielded and restrained in such a manner so as not to illuminate or intrude on surrounding properties. Excessive brightness, flashing lights and brilliant colors are not permitted.
Full Breakdown
Section 157.032 of the Boone County Code sets the county's only outdoor-lighting standard, and it applies in any district without a separate residential or commercial track. The first rule is a design match: lighting has to be of a design and size that is harmonious with the design of the building, the type of land use and the type of adjacent land uses, so an industrial-grade floodlight bank on a house lot, or a glaring commercial fixture near homes, can be flagged on design grounds alone.
The second rule targets glare specifically: when a property uses external spot or flood lighting, the light source should be shielded and restrained in such a manner so as not to illuminate or intrude on surrounding properties, meaning the lamp itself, not just its beam, has to be aimed and shrouded so it doesn't wash out a neighbor's yard or window. The section closes with a flat ban: excessive brightness, flashing lights and brilliant colors are not permitted anywhere in the county, a rule that reaches strobing security lights and neon-toned landscape lighting as much as it does a stray floodlight.
The Area Plan Commission Director reviews lighting plans as part of the improvement location permit for any new structure under § 157.140, and there is no dedicated lighting fine in Chapter 157, so an unshielded or flashing installation defaults to the general penalty at § 10.99: up to $2,500 for a first violation and up to $7,500 for repeat violations. Lebanon, Zionsville, Whitestown, Jamestown and Thornton regulate outdoor lighting under their own codes.
Violations & Fines
There is no lighting-specific fine in Chapter 157, so an unshielded floodlight, a flashing light or a fixture that intrudes onto a neighbor's property falls under the county's general penalty at § 10.99: up to $2,500 for a first violation and up to $7,500 for repeat violations, with each day of noncompliance counted separately.
Frequently Asked Questions
Does Boone County require shielded outdoor lighting?
Can I install colored or flashing landscape lighting?
What if my neighbor's floodlight shines into my yard?
What's the penalty for an unshielded light?
Sources & Official References
Other rules in Boone County
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