Midland, TX Outdoor Lighting: Dark Sky Rules (2026)
Key Facts
- Light spill limit (residential line)
- 1/4 foot-candle
- Fixture type
- LED only, no metal halide
- Shielding height
- 3 ft above grade (nonres.)
- Banned fixtures
- Cobra-head dished/drop lenses
Summary
Midland's Zoning Ordinance names preserving the night sky as a lighting purpose and requires shielded, LED-only fixtures with capped light spill onto neighboring residential property.
5.Preserve the night sky as a natural resource.(B)General Requirements. The following standards shall apply to all exterior lighting except public street lighting and other lighting (see the City's engineering standards for lighting requirements in a public right-of-way) that is specifically exempted by this subsection.
1.Shielded Light Source Required.(a)All luminaires located on nonresidential use properties shall be designed so that the light source (bulb or lamp) is completely shielded from direct view of at a point three feet above grade on the lot line abutting a residentially used or zoned property.(b)In all other instances, the light source must be completely shielded from direct view of at a point six feet above grade on the lot line.(c)See Figure 7: Shielded/Cutoff Light Source Required for examples.2.Light Emitting Diode (LED) Lighting Required. All exterior lighting governed by this Section 11-1-6.03 Lighting Standards shall be composed of LED luminaires and no other form or type of luminaire, such as a metal halide lamp, is permitted.
3.Light Trespass (foot-candle) Limitation. All luminaires located on private property shall be designed or positioned so that the maximum illumination at the property line next to a residentially used or zoned property shall not exceed one-quarter (¼) foot-candle and shall not exceed one-half (½) foot-candle adjacent to a street right-of-way.
4.Canopy Lighting.
Official source re-checked September 7, 2026: no newer edition of the code had been published (publisher’s edition: Municipal Code: Supplement 1 Update 2).
Full Breakdown
Sec. 11-1-6.03 lists preserving the night sky as a natural resource among the purposes of Midland's lighting standards. Every nonresidential luminaire must be shielded so the bulb isn't visible from three feet above grade at a residential property line, and all exterior lighting citywide must use LED fixtures -- no metal halide or other lamp types. Light spilling onto a residential property line is capped at one-quarter foot-candle, and one-half foot-candle at a street right-of-way. 'Cobra head' fixtures with dished or drop lenses are banned outright.
Violations & Fines
Installing unshielded, non-LED, or 'cobra head' outdoor lighting, or lighting that exceeds the one-quarter foot-candle spill limit at a residential line, violates Sec. 11-1-6.03 and requires a compliance lighting plan filed with the Building Official.
Frequently Asked Questions
Does Midland require dark-sky-friendly lighting?
How much light can spill onto my neighbor's yard in Midland?
Sources & Official References
Other rules in Midland
Texas rules heatmap·Compare Midland to another location·View the Texas outdoor lighting overview
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