El Paso, TX Outdoor Lighting: Dark Sky Rules (2026)
Key Facts
- Lighting zones
- E1 (strictest) through E4
- E1 covers
- planned mountain development overlay
- E1 residential lumen cap
- 10,000 lumens/net acre
- E1 commercial lumen cap
- 125,000 lumens/net acre
- Decorative lighting curfew
- off by 11 p.m.
- Max fine per violation
- $2,000/day
Summary
El Paso runs a citywide dark-sky-style Outdoor Lighting Code that sorts every property into one of four lighting zones, E1 through E4, based on the zoning district, with the mountain-overlay zone E1 requiring fully shielded fixtures and the tightest lumen caps. All new outdoor lighting must meet shielding and total-output limits before a permit issues.
It is the intent of this chapter to define practical and effective measures by which the obtrusive aspects of excessive and/or careless outdoor light usage can be minimized, while preserving safety, security, and the nighttime use and enjoyment of property... All nonexempt outdoor lighting fixtures shall have shielding as shown in Table 18.18.070... Lighting Zone E1. This zone shall include all zoning districts with a 'planned mountain development' overlay... All class 3 lighting shall be extinguished between 11:00 p.m. (or when the business closes, whichever is later) and sunrise.
Full Breakdown
070 requires "F" (fully shielded fixtures only) for most lighting classes citywide, escalating to a flat prohibition ("X") on unshielded Class 3 decorative lighting of 1,800+ lumens in Zone E1. 080 then caps total outdoor light output per net acre, with Zone E1 residential capped at 10,000 total lumens (1,000 unshielded) versus 20,000/5,000 in Zone E4, and Zone E1 commercial capped at 125,000 total lumens versus 1,000,000 in Zone E4. 070. 310, though the lumen caps themselves are not retroactively mandatory for pre-existing installations.
Violations & Fines
Installing or maintaining outdoor lighting that fails the shielding or lumen-output standards of Chapter 18.18 is enforced under City Code § 18.18.400: a misdemeanor punishable by a fine not to exceed $2,000, with each day of the violation charged as a separate offense.
Frequently Asked Questions
What is Lighting Zone E1 in El Paso?
Does El Paso require full cutoff (fully shielded) light fixtures?
When did existing outdoor lights have to comply?
Sources & Official References
Other rules in El Paso
Texas rules heatmap·Compare El Paso to another location·View the Texas outdoor lighting overview
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