Meridian, ID Outdoor Lighting: Dark Sky Rules (2026)
Key Facts
- Full cutoff shield required
- fixtures 1,800+ lumens
- Uplighting
- only if shielded from sky
- Light trespass limit
- 0.1 foot-candle at residential line
- Residential fixture height cap
- 6 feet
- Banned lamp types
- mercury vapor, low-pressure sodium
Summary
Meridian requires outdoor light fixtures of 1,800 lumens or more to use a full cutoff shield and opaque top, and caps light trespass onto residential lots at 0.1 foot-candle.
Light fixtures that have a maximum output of one thousand eight hundred (1,800) lumens or more shall have an opaque top to prevent uplighting; the bulb shall not be visible and shall have a full cutoff shield. Uplighting shall only be allowed in cases where the fixture and any light it emits are shielded from the sky by a roof overhang or similar structural shield.
Official source re-checked September 7, 2026: no newer edition of the code had been published (publisher’s edition: Code of Ordinances: Supplement 14).
Full Breakdown
Under Meridian's Unified Development Code, any outdoor fixture producing 1,800 lumens or more needs an opaque top and a full cutoff shield so the bulb stays hidden and no light escapes above the horizontal plane. Uplighting is prohibited citywide unless the fixture is shielded from the sky by a roof overhang or similar structure. Light crossing onto an abutting residential lot cannot exceed 0.1 foot-candle measured at five feet above grade, mercury vapor and low-pressure sodium fixtures are banned outright, and motion-activated floodlights must shut off within five minutes of triggering. Freestanding fixtures on residential property top out at six feet; streetlamps are exempt.
Violations & Fines
Meridian's Code Enforcement Division investigates and issues a notice of violation; noncompliance is a misdemeanor punishable by up to $1,000 and six months in jail, with each day a separate offense.
Frequently Asked Questions
Does Meridian require dark-sky compliant outdoor lighting?
How much light can spill onto a neighbor's yard in Meridian?
Are floodlights regulated in Meridian?
Sources & Official References
Other rules in Meridian
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Dark Sky Rules in Nearby Cities
How other cities in this county handle dark sky rules.