Broken Arrow, OK Outdoor Lighting: Dark Sky Rules (2026)
Key Facts
- Cutoff angle limit
- 90 degrees maximum
- Applies to
- nonresidential, multi-family, mixed-use sites
- Residential exempt
- single-family and duplex homes
- Adopted
- Ord. No. 3877, May 20 2025
- Compliance proof
- lighting plan required with site plan
Summary
Broken Arrow's zoning code requires every outdoor light fixture on nonresidential, multi-family, and mixed-use sites to use a shielded, full cutoff luminaire angled no more than 90 degrees so light stays off neighboring Tulsa County property.
Light sources shall be concealed or shielded with luminaries with cut-offs with an angle not exceeding 90 degrees to minimize the potential for glare and unnecessary diffusion on adjacent property. For purposes of this standard, "cutoff angle" is defined as the angle formed by a line drawn from the direction of light rays at the light source and a line perpendicular to the ground from the light source above from which no light is emitted. Figure 4-4-3-1, Examples of Cut-Off Fixtures and Shielded Luminaries
Full Breakdown
Division 4-4 of the Broken Arrow Zoning Ordinance (Ord. No. 3877, adopted May 20, 2025) governs exterior lighting for nonresidential, multi-family, and mixed-use development. Section 4-4-3.A.4 requires every light source be concealed or shielded by a luminaire with a cutoff angle not exceeding 90 degrees, preventing glare and diffusion onto adjacent lots. A lighting plan proving compliance must accompany every site plan submittal under Section 4-4-2. Single-family and duplex homes, public street lighting, utility work, and temporary event or holiday lighting are exempted. The rule applies across Broken Arrow's zoning districts in Tulsa County, not in unincorporated Tulsa County itself.
Violations & Fines
Violating any zoning ordinance provision, including the lighting shielding standard, is a misdemeanor under Section 8-2-3 punishable by up to a $1,000 fine or ten days in jail; each day counts as a separate violation.
Frequently Asked Questions
Does Broken Arrow require full cutoff (dark-sky) light fixtures?
Do homeowners need shielded security lights?
Sources & Official References
Other rules in Broken Arrow
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Dark Sky Rules in Nearby Cities
How other cities in this county handle dark sky rules.