Washington County, MD Outdoor Lighting: Dark Sky Rules (2026)

Article 22, Division X of the Washington County Zoning Ordinance, adopted effective July 1, 2012, governs outdoor lighting. 3(a) requires exterior lighting to be 'fully shielded using concealed source fixtures directed downward and away from adjacent properties and street rights-of-way,' with all fixtures using full cutoff housings, louvers, glare shields, optics or reflectors to prevent off-site glare. 4(a) then scales pole height to how close the fixture sits to housing: a pole within 50 feet of a residential district or use tops out at 15 feet, 20 feet between 50 and 250 feet away, 30 feet between 250 and 500 feet, and 35 feet beyond 500 feet, measured from grade to the highest point of the light source.

Any pole light within 10 feet of a residential district or use additionally needs 'house-sided' shielding, a visor or shielding panel that directs light away from the residential side. 4(b). 2, but a replacement fixture must meet the current shielding standard.