Brooklyn Park, MN Outdoor Lighting: Dark Sky Rules (2026)
Key Facts
- Governing section
- § 152.1014(C) Lighting Standards
- Fixture height near residential
- 15 ft within 250 ft
- Fixture height elsewhere
- 25 ft beyond 250 ft
- Cut-off angle
- 90 degrees maximum
- Low-pressure sodium
- single-family, duplex, townhouse only
- Applies to
- all new development citywide
Summary
Brooklyn Park's zoning code caps outdoor light fixtures at 15 feet within 250 feet of any residential-zoned property and 25 feet beyond that distance, and every free-standing luminaire must have a cut-off angle of 90 degrees or less so light is directed downward. Low-pressure sodium fixtures are restricted to single-family, duplex and townhouse developments. The standards apply to all new development citywide.
§ 152.1014 LIGHTING STANDARDS. ... (B) Applicability. ... The following standards shall apply to all new development. Seasonal lighting is not regulated by this section. (C) Standards. ... (4) Free-standing luminaire regulations. Height maximums, as measured from the average elevation of the finished grade within ten feet of the structure or fixture to the highest point of the luminaire (including the support structure), may be as follows: (a) Within 250 feet of any property zoned residential: 15 feet including any base or support structures. (b) Farther than 250 feet from any property zoned residential or if the height of the building effectively blocks the light from a residential zone: 25 feet. (5) Cut-off angles must be equal to or less than 90 degrees. (6) Low-pressure sodium fixtures may only be used for: single-family, duplex, and townhouse developments.
Full Breakdown
1014 of the zoning code and apply to all new development; seasonal lighting is exempt. Wall- or roof-mounted fixtures may only illuminate pedestrian walkways, entrances and loading docks within 20 feet of the building, and cannot be the primary light source for vehicle parking or access areas beyond that 20-foot line. Any open parking, storage or access area must instead rely on free-standing luminaires, which are height-limited: 15 feet including the base within 250 feet of a residential-zoned property, or 25 feet farther out (or where the building itself blocks the light from reaching the residential zone).
Every fixture's cut-off angle must be 90 degrees or less so light is aimed downward rather than spilling outward. Low-pressure sodium fixtures, whose amber cast is harder to shield, are limited to single-family, duplex and townhouse developments only. 5 foot-candles at the side or interior property line. Community Development's Planning and Development division checks these numbers during site plan and building permit review; a project that cannot demonstrate compliance is not approved for construction. The ordinance was adopted by Ord. 2024-1304, passed July 29, 2024.
Violations & Fines
Brooklyn Park's zoning code does not set a separate lighting fine; violations of Chapter 152 fall under the citywide general penalty in § 10.99, a misdemeanor punishable by up to 90 days in jail and a $1,000 fine, or a petty misdemeanor carrying a $300 fine, with each day a violation continues charged as a separate offense. Community Development reviews lighting plans during site plan approval and can require correction before occupancy.
Frequently Asked Questions
What is the maximum height for outdoor light fixtures near homes in Brooklyn Park?
Does Brooklyn Park limit how fixtures point?
Can low-pressure sodium lights be used on commercial properties?
Does this apply to existing lighting or just new projects?
Sources & Official References
Other rules in Brooklyn Park
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