Josephine County, OR Outdoor Lighting: Dark Sky Rules (2026)
Key Facts
- Rule
- full shielding or hooded downward light
- Covers
- all exterior fixtures, including security lights
- Prohibited
- light onto neighbors or into night sky
- Companion repeal
- indoor lighting § 19.77.020, repealed 2025
- Fine
- up to $500, $1,000 continuing
- Citation
- JCC § 19.77.010
Summary
JCC § 19.77.010 requires every exterior light fixture in unincorporated Josephine County, including security lighting, to be shielded or hooded so it casts light downward only, never onto a neighboring property or upward into the night sky. Fixtures without a hood or lens must still be fully shielded so light stays below the horizontal plane at the lamp's lowest point.
All exterior lighting, including light emitted from security systems, shall be shielded or use a hood and lens that cast light downward so as to ensure no light is cast onto adjacent properties nor upward into the night sky. If the lighting mechanism does not utilize a hood or lens, lighting fixtures shall be fully shielded in such a manner that all light emitted directly by the lamp or diffusing element, or indirectly by reflection or refraction, is projected below the horizontal plane through the lowest light-emitting part.
Full Breakdown
010, adopted by Ordinance 2017-001, is the Rural Land Development Code's dark-sky standard: "All exterior lighting, including light emitted from security systems, shall be shielded or use a hood and lens that cast light downward so as to ensure no light is cast onto adjacent properties nor upward into the night sky. " The rule reaches every exterior fixture in the unincorporated county, residential, commercial or industrial, and specifically calls out security lighting, a common source of glare and light trespass complaints. 060(E), which uses nearly identical shielding language for lot lighting. 010 as the chapter's sole surviving standard. 010.
Violations & Fines
An unshielded exterior light, including a security light, that casts glare onto a neighbor's property or upward into the night sky violates JCC § 19.77.010. The Planning Director issues written notice describing the violation and allows up to 30 days to correct the fixture under JCC §§ 19.19.020-.030, with a conviction fine of up to $500, or $1,000 for a continuing violation, under § 19.19.010.
Frequently Asked Questions
Do I need to shield my outdoor security light in Josephine County?
What if my light fixture has no hood or lens?
Is there still an indoor lighting rule in the county code?
Sources & Official References
Other rules in Josephine County
Compare Josephine County to another location·View the Oregon outdoor lighting overview
See something wrong?
Help us keep this page accurate. If you notice an error or outdated information, let us know.