Douglas County, NE Outdoor Lighting: Dark Sky Rules (2026)

Outdoor lighting in Douglas County is regulated primarily through Omaha Municipal Code Chapter 55 (Zoning) lighting provisions and through subdivision and design review requirements for newer developments. New exterior lighting on commercial, industrial, and multi-family properties must generally use fully shielded (full-cutoff) fixtures that direct light downward and prevent direct view of the lamp or diode from beyond the property. Maximum illumination at residential property lines is typically capped at 0.5 to 1.0 foot-candles. Parking lot lighting has specific pole height limits (often 25 to 30 feet maximum in proximity to residential) and coverage uniformity requirements. Motion-activated security lighting is encouraged. Color temperature is increasingly regulated — newer Omaha guidance favors 3000K or below for outdoor LED to reduce blue-light emissions that contribute to sky glow and affect circadian rhythms. Single-family residential lighting has fewer formal requirements but is subject to nuisance/trespass standards. Douglas County does not have a full "dark sky" ordinance comparable to Flagstaff AZ or Ketchum ID, but the adjacent Nebraska Loess Hills and rural western Douglas County retain good night sky visibility. Lauritzen Gardens and Fontenelle Forest host occasional dark-sky programming.