Clackamas County has no formal 'dark-sky' overlay, but ZDO Subsection 1005.04 requires outdoor lighting not to direct light skyward: fixtures must shield and direct light downward, pole-mounted lights cannot exceed 25 feet, and entrance lighting is capped at 12 feet. Holiday lights and street lights are exempt.
The county is not a certified dark-sky community and has no numeric sky-glow standard, but its site-design rules act like one for new development. ZDO Subsection 1005.04(A) requires outdoor lighting devices to shield and direct light downward, or aim it at walls or landscape features, so light stays within the subject property and does not shine skyward. Pole-mounted fixtures may not exceed 25 feet or the height of the tallest onsite structure, whichever is less, and entrance lighting must be glare-free, directed downward, and no higher than 12 feet. Temporary holiday lighting, street lights and outdoor-recreation field lighting are exempt under Subsection 1005.04(B). DarkSky Oregon also promotes voluntary shielding statewide.
Lighting that violates the site-design standards can be flagged during land-use or building review; existing residential fixtures are largely addressed through the light-trespass and nuisance framework rather than fines.
Other ordinances people look up for this city. Green dot = verified primary-source excerpt.
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Backyard composting of yard debris and food scraps is allowed and encouraged in Clackamas County; no permit is needed for a home compost pile. Commercial-sca...
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Clackamas County has no ordinance banning or specifically regulating artificial turf in residential yards. Standard land-use rules on lot coverage, drainage,...
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Clackamas County does not mandate native-plant landscaping for private yards, but strongly encourages it and requires native-vegetation retention in protecte...
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Rooftop rainwater harvesting is legal in Oregon and does not need a water right. Clackamas County adds no ban. Collecting rain from an artificial impervious ...
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Clackamas County government sets no countywide outdoor-watering ban. Watering rules come from your local water provider (such as Clackamas River Water or Sun...
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Oregon law (ORS 569) declares noxious weeds a public nuisance to be controlled on all lands. Clackamas County runs the WeedWise program (since 2009) through ...
See how Clackamas County's dark sky rules rules stack up against other locations.
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