Island County, WA Outdoor Lighting: Dark Sky Rules (2026)
Key Facts
- Applies to
- New/replaced outdoor lighting, Freeland NMUGA
- Lamp color cap
- 4500K commercial, 3500K residential
- Fixture type
- Cutoff or full cutoff required
- Nonconforming fixtures
- >70W need sunset-sunrise auto shutoff
- Non-essential lighting
- Off or reduced 50% by 10 p.m./close
Summary
New or replaced outdoor lighting in Freeland's Non-Municipal Urban Growth Area must use warm-colored, shielded fixtures under Island County Code Section 17.06.570, adopted to preserve dark skies and protect wildlife habitat from artificial light. Fixtures must run below 4500 Kelvin for commercial sites, 3500 Kelvin for residential, and be cutoff or full cutoff type.
A.Purpose.1.To limit outdoor lighting to the minimum necessary for safety, security, utility, way-finding, enjoyment, and commerce.2.To minimize offsite impacts, such as light trespass (light and glare on adjacent properties), preserve the dark skies, protect natural habitats from the damage of artificial light, and provide a more pleasant and comfortable nighttime environment, without detracting from legitimate purposes of safety, security, utility, way-finding, and enjoyment. ... C.Lamp types.1.Lamps shall be of a white or yellow/amber light source with a color-rendering index (CRI) greater than or equal to seventy (70) and a Kelvin rating below 4500K for commercial, and 3500K for residential. ... E.Fixtures and shielding. ... 2.All light fixtures must be cutoff or full cutoff per Table 17.06.570.E.2(1), except as listed in paragraph (4) below.
Full Breakdown
A states the chapter's purpose: limiting outdoor lighting to what safety, security, and commerce actually need, minimizing light trespass onto neighboring properties, preserving dark skies, and protecting natural habitats from artificial light. B). 1 caps lamp color temperature at 4500 Kelvin for commercial uses and 3500 Kelvin for residential uses, requires a color-rendering index of at least 70, and calls for true amber or warm-white LEDs in ecologically sensitive areas. 5 bans cobra-head fixtures, lasers, strobes, and low-pressure sodium or mercury vapor sources outright. 2(1), full cutoff for multi-family, mixed-use, and non-residential projects and simple cutoff for single-family homes. F). 1). J).
Violations & Fines
The Planning Director reviews the required lighting plan and photometric certification before granting site plan or building permit approval, and fixtures installed before the June 2019 ordinance that are non-cutoff or exceed 70 watts are treated as nonconforming and must carry an automatic shutoff between sunset and sunrise (17.06.570.G.3). General code-enforcement, complaint, and penalty procedures under Island County Code Titles 16 and 17 (17.06.030.A) apply to a property that installs or keeps noncompliant lighting.
Frequently Asked Questions
What color of outdoor light bulb does Island County require in Freeland?
Do I need to shield outdoor lights in Freeland?
Is holiday lighting exempt from Freeland's dark-sky rules?
Sources & Official References
Other rules in Island County
Compare Island County to another location·View the Washington outdoor lighting overview
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