Fort Smith, AR Outdoor Lighting: Dark Sky Rules (2026)
Key Facts
- Trespass limit
- 0.1 foot-candles at 5 ft
- Applies to
- commercial/nonresidential fixtures
- Exempt
- 1- and 2-family dwellings
- Code section
- § 27-602-5(C)(1)
Summary
Fort Smith caps outdoor light trespass at 0.1 foot-candles onto residentially zoned property and requires shielded fixtures to curb glare and skyglow under the Unified Development Ordinance.
At a height of five feet above the property line of the subject property, illuminations from light fixtures shall not exceed 0.1 foot-candles in a vertical plane on residentially zoned property.2.Outdoor light fixtures properly installed and thereafter maintained shall be directed so that there will not be any objectionable direct glare source visible from any property. Light fixtures near adjacent property may require special shielding devices to prevent light trespass.D.Illuminance and luminance requirements. Illuminance and luminance requirements shall be as set forth in the current edition of the illuminating Engineering Society of North America (IESNA) Lighting Handbook.E.Outdoor lighting energy conservation.1.All outdoor lighting not necessary for security purposes shall be reduced, activated by motion sensor devices, or turned-off during non-operating hours. Illuminated signs are excluded from this requirement.2.All lighting shall be designed to prevent misdirected or excessive artificial light and to maximize energy efficiency. (Code 1992, § 27-602)
Official source re-checked September 7, 2026: no newer edition of the code had been published (publisher’s edition: Code of Ordinances: Supplement 4).
Full Breakdown
Under the Unified Development Ordinance, all outdoor lighting fixtures other than those serving one- and two-family homes must avoid glare, light trespass, and unnecessary skyglow. The code sets a hard numeric ceiling: measured at a height of five feet above the property line, illumination from any fixture cannot exceed 0.1 foot-candles in a vertical plane onto residentially zoned property. Fixtures near property lines may require special shielding to stay under that limit, and floodlights must be permanently fixed once properly aimed.
Violations & Fines
Violations are enforced by the city's planning and zoning department; noncompliant fixtures must be shielded, re-aimed, or removed, and citations follow the general municipal code penalty in Sec. 1-13.
Frequently Asked Questions
Does this apply to my house's porch light?
How is light trespass measured?
Sources & Official References
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