Denver Zoning Code §10.6 requires fully-shielded fixtures, caps color temperature at 3000K, and limits light trespass to 0.5 foot-candles at residential property lines. Non-essential commercial lighting must dim or extinguish by 11:00 PM. The standards align with Colorado's growing dark-sky tourism corridor.
Denver Zoning Code Section 10.6 regulates outdoor lighting citywide. All new outdoor luminaires above 1000 lumens must be fully shielded (zero light above horizontal), and color temperature is capped at 3000 Kelvin. Light trespass onto adjacent residential property may not exceed 0.5 foot-candles measured at the property line. Maximum mounting heights vary by zone — 30 feet in commercial mixed-use, 16 feet in residential. Non-essential commercial lighting (parking lots, signage, decorative landscape) must dim at least 50% or extinguish by 11:00 PM. Denver is not IDA-certified, but the Colorado Dark Sky Coalition has worked with Denver Community Planning & Development to align city standards with the growing roster of IDA-certified Dark Sky Places elsewhere in Colorado (Westcliffe-Silver Cliff, Norwood, Wet Mountain Valley). Special districts — sports complexes, hospitals, gas-station canopies — have specific glare controls. Wildlife-corridor overlays in the South Platte and Sand Creek areas add stricter limits on near-water lighting.
Civil infractions start at $150 per fixture and escalate to $999 for continuing violations under Denver Revised Municipal Code §1-15. Permit conditions can require retrofit, and Certificates of Occupancy depend on lighting compliance.
Denver, CO
Denver's Zoning Code allows residential lawn ornaments and statuary without permits provided they do not exceed accessory-structure height limits in DZC Arti...
Denver, CO
Denver does not regulate residential inflatable holiday decorations by size or type. Blower-motor noise falls under DRMC 36-6 (Noise) limits, lighted inflata...
Denver, CO
Denver has no ordinance restricting when residents may put up or take down holiday lights. DRMC Chapter 36 (Noise) governs amplified outdoor displays, DZC Ar...
Denver, CO
Built-in outdoor kitchens in Denver require permits from Community Planning and Development whenever the project includes gas piping, electrical, plumbing, o...
Denver, CO
Backyard wood and pellet smokers are allowed at single-family Denver homes but are governed by DRMC Chapter 4 (Air Pollution Control) and Colorado Department...
Denver, CO
Denver Fire Code (DRMC Title 9, adopting IFC 2018 with amendments) Section 308.1.4 prohibits charcoal grills and LP-gas containers over 1 lb on combustible b...
See how Denver's dark sky rules rules stack up against other locations.
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