UDO Article 6.5 is written to minimize light pollution and trespass. Fixtures in parking and vehicular areas must be full cutoff, most fixtures over 2,000 lumens must be full cutoff, pole heights are capped (30 ft parking, 15 ft near residential), and uplighting is limited to shielded accent lighting that avoids spill into the night sky.
Fishers' Exterior Lighting Standards (UDO Article 6.5) function as the city's dark-sky and light-pollution rules. The stated intent (Sec. 6.5.1) is to minimize light pollution and light trespass by encouraging professional lighting design and using fixtures that reduce pollution. Key requirements: light fixtures in parking and vehicular-display areas must be full cutoff (Sec. 6.5.4.D), and in all other areas fixtures emitting more than 2,000 lumens must be full cutoff unless they meet specified exceptions for decorative fixtures (such as not exceeding 9,500 initial lumens or using frosted/refractive elements). Pole and fixture heights are limited: no higher than 30 feet in parking/vehicular areas, 15 feet in pedestrian areas, and 15 feet within 50 feet of a residential district property line. Flood lights must be aimed down at least 45 degrees or fully shielded, and flood lamps emitting 1,000-plus lumens must be aimed at least 60 degrees down or shielded (Sec. 6.5.5). Building and security lighting must focus on the building/site and away from neighbors and the street, with all wall-pack fixtures being full cutoff (Sec. 6.5.8); only accent lighting of architecture, landscaping, or art may be directed upward, and only if shielded to avoid spill into the night sky. A lighting permit with a point-by-point photometric plan is required (Sec. 6.5.1.C). Exemptions include holiday lighting in November-January, residential carriage/porch/architectural accent lighting, public-safety lighting, and architectural lighting of 40 watts or less. Sports-field lights are capped at 100 feet tall (Sec. 6.5.7).
Installing non-cutoff fixtures where full cutoff is required, exceeding pole-height limits, unshielded uplighting that spills into the night sky, or operating without the required lighting permit/photometric plan are UDO violations enforced under Chapter 11, which may require fixture replacement or re-aiming plus daily penalties.
Other ordinances people look up for this city. Green dot = verified primary-source excerpt.
fishers-in
Fishers has no ordinance prohibiting backyard composting. Indiana exempts an individual composting vegetative matter on their own property from IDEM composti...
fishers-in
Fishers has no ordinance banning artificial turf, but its UDO will not credit it toward required landscaping: § 6.7.3.G states 'dead, diseased or artificial ...
fishers-in
Fishers actively encourages native planting: its UDO landscaping standards (§ 6.7.1) aim to 'encourage native planting that protect biodiversity,' draw plant...
fishers-in
Fishers has no ordinance restricting residential rainwater harvesting, and Indiana places no statewide limit on collecting rainwater for non-potable use. Non...
fishers-in
Fishers Code Chapter 52 lets the Mayor declare a water warning or water emergency for the Citizens Water / Indiana American system. Under § 52.05, restrictio...
fishers-in
Fishers Code §§ 95.20-95.25 require owners to cut weeds and rank vegetation over eight inches tall, plus any noxious plants listed in IC 15-16-7-2. The Depar...
Side-by-side rule comparisons with other cities in Hamilton County.
See how Fishers's dark sky rules rules stack up against other locations.
Help us keep this page accurate. If you notice an error or outdated information, let us know.