The Tri-Cities regulate outdoor lighting to cut glare and sky glow across the arid Columbia Basin. Richland and Kennewick require new exterior fixtures to be fully shielded and aimed downward, protecting the desert night sky.
Outdoor lighting in the Benton County Tri-Cities is governed by municipal zoning. Richland's Outdoor Lighting Standards (RMC 23.58) and Kennewick's outdoor light chapter (KMC 18.39) require fixtures installed after adoption to be fully shielded so the light source sits level with or above the fixture edge, minimizing light cast above the horizontal. Fixtures must direct light downward and keep the lamp's direct line of sight on the owner's own property. Richland's stated aim includes protecting the nighttime character of the desert sky. Washington has no statewide dark-sky statute, so these are local rules; unincorporated Benton County relies on nuisance and building standards rather than a county lighting ordinance.
Non-compliant fixtures draw a correction notice from city planning. Failure to comply can hold up permits and certificates of occupancy, and commercial sites face escalating code-enforcement penalties.
Other ordinances people look up for this city. Green dot = verified primary-source excerpt.
Kennewick, WA
Industrial-source noise crossing into Kennewick residential neighborhoods is capped by WAC 173-60-040 at 60 dBA during the day and 50 dBA between 10:00 p.m. ...
Kennewick, WA
Motor vehicle noise on Kennewick streets is governed by the statewide motor vehicle noise performance standards in WAC Chapter 173-62, which set in-use sound...
Kennewick, WA
Tri-Cities Airport (KPSC) is operated by the Port of Pasco and sits across the Columbia River in Franklin County, not Kennewick. Aircraft noise in Kennewick ...
Kennewick, WA
Amplified music in Kennewick is regulated under the Kennewick Municipal Code's public-disturbance noise provisions, which treat amplified sound that is plain...
Kennewick, WA
Kennewick has not codified a gas leaf blower ban, a decibel cap specific to leaf blowers, or restricted hours of operation. Use is governed by the general pu...
Kennewick, WA
Persistent or habitual barking, howling, or other animal noise that disturbs the peace is regulated as a public-disturbance noise nuisance under the Kennewic...
See how Kennewick's dark sky rules rules stack up against other locations.
Help us keep this page accurate. If you notice an error or outdated information, let us know.