Honolulu County's LUO 21-4.100 requires full cut-off shielded outdoor fixtures for commercial, industrial, and outdoor-recreational development to prevent direct illumination of nearby residential and resort districts, complementing state night sky policy.
LUO Section 21-4.100 is Honolulu County's principal outdoor lighting and dark-sky standard. For commercial, industrial, and outdoor-recreational development, fixtures must be full cut-off and shielded to eliminate direct illumination onto adjacent country, residential, apartment, apartment mixed-use, or resort districts. Non-enclosed rooftop gathering spaces must also be shielded so that light does not spill beyond the rooftop. The ordinance complements state HRS 201-8.5, which sets a statewide night sky protection strategy. The LUO's General Development Standards (Article 4) provide the broader regulatory context for these requirements.
Noncompliant fixtures can result in LUO enforcement including citations, permit revocation, and required retrofits under Chapter 21.
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Side-by-side rule comparisons with other cities in Honolulu County.
See how other cities in Honolulu County handle dark sky rules.
See how Honolulu's dark sky rules rules stack up against other locations.
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