Douglas County, NE Outdoor Lighting: Dark Sky Rules (2026)
Key Facts
- Applies to
- HCG Overlay District only, not countywide
- Max lighting standard height
- 35 feet (Section 8.04(D)(1)(h)(ii))
- Shielding rule
- Hooded fixtures, no glare onto neighbors
- Violation penalty
- Class III misdemeanor, per day
- Omaha coverage
- Not covered; Omaha has its own code
Summary
Unincorporated Douglas County caps light standards at 35 feet and requires hooded, glare-shielded fixtures on new commercial and office buildings inside the Highway Corridor Gateway Overlay District. No county-wide dark-sky rule exists outside that overlay, and Omaha runs its own separate code.
Exterior lighting of buildings shall be limited to lowlevel incandescent spotlights, floodlights, and similar illuminating devices hooded in such a manner that the direct beam of any light sources will not glare upon adjacent property or public streets.
Full Breakdown
Douglas County Zoning Regulations Section 8.04(D)(1)(h) governs exterior lighting only within the Highway Corridor Gateway (HCG) Overlay District along the county's major highway corridors, not the whole unincorporated county. New commercial and office parking-area and building lighting must deflect light away from adjoining property and streets, with no light trespass; lighting standards are capped at 35 feet; and building fixtures must be low-level and hooded so no direct beam glares onto neighbors or public streets. The Zoning Coordinator can grant exceptions for sports lighting, flagpoles, street lighting, holiday lighting, and public-safety lighting. Outside the HCG District, and inside Omaha, Bennington, Valley, Waterloo, and Ralston, this rule does not apply.
Violations & Fines
Zoning Coordinator issues a written violation notice ordering the fixture removed or corrected; unresolved violations are a Class III misdemeanor, with each 24-hour period a separate offense (Section 13.12).
Frequently Asked Questions
Does this apply to my house in Omaha?
Does Douglas County have a general dark-sky ordinance?
How tall can a parking lot light pole be in the HCG Overlay?
Sources & Official References
Other rules in Douglas County
Compare Douglas County to another location·View the Nebraska outdoor lighting overview
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