Bryan, TX Outdoor Lighting: Dark Sky Rules (2026)
Key Facts
- Lumen cap, residential-adjacent
- 0.50 lumens at property line
- Lumen cap, nonresidential-adjacent
- 1.0 lumen at property line
- Parking lot fixture height
- Max 24 feet
- Walkway fixture height
- Max 12 feet
- Fixture requirement
- Shielded, cutoff angle ≤90°
Summary
In Bryan's Innovation Corridor overlay district, outdoor lighting is capped at 0.5 to 1.0 lumens at the property line and every fixture must be shielded with a cutoff angle no greater than 90 degrees.
Unless otherwise expressly stated, the provisions of this section shall apply to all outdoor lighting except public streetlights... (a) Outdoor lighting shall not exceed the following levels: (1) 0.50 lumens at the property line if the subject property abuts a residential district or a lot containing a residential use... (c) All outdoor lighting shall be shielded and provided with cutoff fixtures that are designed to have a cutoff angle of no more than 90 degrees.
Official source re-checked September 7, 2026: no newer edition of the code had been published (publisher’s edition: Code of Ordinances: Supplement 31).
Full Breakdown
Sec. 62-565 governs outdoor lighting inside the Innovation Corridor (IC) overlay district along John Sharp Parkway/SH 47 and SH 21. Light at the property line is capped at 0.50 lumens where the site abuts a residential district or use, and 1.0 lumen where it abuts a nonresidential district, use, or the right-of-way. Parking lot fixtures max out at 24 feet and pedestrian walkway fixtures at 12 feet, and all outdoor lighting must be shielded with cutoff fixtures rated no more than 90 degrees. The city states the purpose is to cut glare, obtrusive light, and sky glow. This standard applies only within the IC overlay, not citywide.
Violations & Fines
No IC-overlay-specific penalty is listed; violations of Chapter 62 site standards fall under City Code Sec. 1-14's general penalty, up to a $2,000 fine per day of continuing violation.
Frequently Asked Questions
Does this lighting rule apply citywide in Bryan?
What lumen limit applies at a residential property line in the IC overlay?
Sources & Official References
Other rules in Bryan
Texas rules heatmap·Compare Bryan to another location·View the Texas outdoor lighting overview
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