Kauai County, HI Outdoor Lighting: Dark Sky Rules (2026)
Key Facts
- Curfew
- Automatic shut-off 10:00 p.m. to 5:00 a.m.
- Fixture rule
- Fully shielded, directed downward, pedestrian-scaled
- Purpose named
- Protects Kaua'i's shearwaters and native birds
- Coverage
- 'Akahi/'Elua/'Umi Streets Design District (SPA-F)
- Penalty
- Misdemeanor up to $2,000 per day, § 8-3.5
Summary
Kaua'i County Code § 10-5A.9(p) bars excessive outdoor lighting and floodlighting in the 'Akahi, 'Elua and 'Umi Streets Neighborhood Design District (SPA-F) and limits fixtures to what safety actually requires. Where lighting is needed, it must be pedestrian-scaled, fully shielded and aimed downward to protect Kaua'i's shearwaters and other native birds, and it must run on a timer or sensor that shuts it off automatically between 10:00 p.m. and 5:00 a.m.
Excessive outdoor lighting and floodlighting is not permitted. Only areas that need to be lit for safety purposes should have outdoor lighting. If businesses do not remain open after dark, general outdoor lighting should not be provided. ... If outdoor lighting is required, fixtures should be scaled to the pedestrian with fully-shielded lights that are directed downward to minimize impact to Kaua'i's shearwaters and other native birds. Outdoor lights should be on a timer or have light sensors and have automatic shut-off capabilities for the hours between 10:00 p.m. and 5:00 a.m.
Full Breakdown
The rule sits inside SPA-F, the design overlay for the 'Akahi, 'Elua and 'Umi Streets neighborhood next to downtown Līhu'e, and it supplements rather than replaces the Comprehensive Zoning Ordinance for that footprint. The first test is necessity: a business that does not stay open after dark should not run general outdoor lighting at all, and even lit businesses may only illuminate the areas that actually need it for safety, ruling out decorative floodlighting of whole facades or lots. Where lighting is justified, the fixture itself has to be full-cutoff and shielded so the light throws downward rather than out or up, sized to a pedestrian's line of sight rather than a highway scale.
The automatic shut-off window, 10:00 p.m. to 5:00 a.m., has to run on a timer or a light sensor, not a manual switch someone might forget, and the stated purpose named in the code is protecting Kaua'i's shearwaters and other native birds from the disorientation artificial light causes nocturnal seabirds navigating between the ocean and inland nesting burrows. The same shielding and shut-off approach shows up in the district's outdoor lighting subsections for the other Rice Street-area overlays, but SPA-F is the only one that names the shearwater protection purpose and the specific curfew hours.
Violations & Fines
Running unshielded floodlighting, or skipping the required timer or sensor shut-off between 10:00 p.m. and 5:00 a.m., is a Chapter 8 violation of the design-district standards. Kaua'i County Code § 8-3.5 makes it a misdemeanor punishable by a fine of up to $2,000, with a new offense for every day the lighting stays noncompliant, and the Planning Director can order it corrected under a civil fine of up to $10,000 plus $10,000 per day.
Frequently Asked Questions
Why does Kaua'i limit outdoor lighting hours in this district?
What kind of light fixtures are allowed in the design district?
How is the shut-off requirement enforced?
Sources & Official References
Other rules in Kauai County
Compare Kauai County to another location·View the Hawaii outdoor lighting overview
See something wrong?
Help us keep this page accurate. If you notice an error or outdated information, let us know.