Kansas City, MO Outdoor Lighting: Dark Sky Rules (2026)
Key Facts
- Shielding threshold
- 4,050 lumens triggers partial shielding
- Spillover cap, residential
- 0.186 foot-candle at property line
- Spillover cap, right-of-way
- 1.0 foot-candle at property line
- Exempt
- Residential lots under 4 units
- Banned outright
- Flashing lights, unapproved searchlights/lasers
Summary
Kansas City requires outdoor light fixtures over 4,050 lumens to be at least partially shielded, capping spillover onto neighboring residential lots at 0.186 foot-candle to control glare and light trespass.
All outdoor light sources that produce more than 4,050 lumens must be at least partially shielded. For the purposes of this provision, "partially-shielded" or "semi-cutoff" means an outdoor light fixture shielded so that no more than 2.5% of the light emitted directly from the lamp or indirectly from the fixture is projected at angles above a horizontal plane extending from the bottom of the fixture.
Partially Shielded, Semi-Cutoff Fixture
88-430-05-B. Light fixtures mounted under gas station canopies must be completely recessed into the canopy with flat lenses that are translucent and completely flush with the bottom surface (ceiling) of the canopy.
88-430-05-C. SPILLOVER LIGHT
Spillover light may not exceed 0.186 foot-candle onto R-zoned property or 1.0 foot-candle onto public rights-of-way measured at grade along the property line.
88-430-05-D. GLARE
All outdoor lighting must be reflected away from residences and streets.
(Ord. No. 170360, § 1, 6-15-2017)
Official source re-checked September 7, 2026: no newer edition of the code had been published (publisher’s edition: Code of Ordinances: Supplement 139 | Zoning and Development Code: Supplement 38).
Full Breakdown
Under Kansas City's Zoning and Development Code, any outdoor light source producing more than 4,050 lumens must be at least partially shielded: no more than 2.5% of emitted light can project above a horizontal plane from the fixture's base. Spillover onto residentially zoned property is capped at 0.186 foot-candle, and onto public rights-of-way at 1.0 foot-candle, measured at the property line. Flashing, revolving, or intermittent lighting and unapproved searchlights or lasers are banned outright. Residential lots with fewer than 4 dwelling units, holiday lights, and city street lighting are exempt. The City Planning and Development Department reviews photometric plans for special-use and development applications.
Violations & Fines
The city planning and development department enforces via site plan review and certificate-of-occupancy sign-off; noncompliant fixtures found during required photometric certification must be corrected before occupancy is granted.
Frequently Asked Questions
Does Kansas City require dark-sky compliant lighting for homes?
What counts as a "shielded" fixture in Kansas City?
Sources & Official References
Other rules in Kansas City
Compare Kansas City to another location·View the Missouri outdoor lighting overview
See something wrong?
Help us keep this page accurate. If you notice an error or outdated information, let us know.
Dark Sky Rules in Nearby Cities
How other cities in Jackson County handle dark sky rules.