Mission, TX Outdoor Lighting: Dark Sky Rules (2026)
Key Facts
- Fixture type
- Cut-off required, nonresidential
- Residential-line cap
- 0.2 footcandles
- Nonresidential-line cap
- 5 footcandles
- On-site max anywhere
- 60 footcandles
- Decorative fixture cap
- 1,500 lumens, 15 ft
Summary
Nonresidential properties in Mission must use cut-off light fixtures and cap illumination at the property line, with tighter limits next to residential zoning to curb light trespass and glare.
All fixtures shall be "cut-off" fixtures that limit lighting that is visible or measurable at the property line... Lighting near residential districts. If abutting or nearby properties are zoned for residential use, cut-off fixtures shall be used so that the light source cannot be seen from residential property... Maximum illumination at a property line abutting or across the street from residential zoning shall not exceed two-tenths footcandles.
Official source re-checked September 7, 2026: no newer edition of the code had been published (publisher’s edition: Code of Ordinances: Supplement 31).
Full Breakdown
Mission's zoning code doesn't brand this a "dark sky" ordinance, but Sec. 98-15(l) does the same job for commercial and industrial sites: cut-off fixtures are mandatory so the light source isn't visible at the property line, decorative no-cut-off fixtures are capped at 1,500 lumens and 15 feet high, illumination at a line abutting residential zoning tops out at 0.2 footcandles, and on-site illumination anywhere is capped at 60 footcandles. Canopy and sign lighting must also be shielded or recessed so the source isn't visible off-site.
Violations & Fines
Violating the lighting standards is a zoning-code offense: Sec. 1-14 sets fines up to $2,000 for zoning violations. The city can also separately order a fixture found to be a public hazard or nuisance modified, limited, or removed under Sec. 98-15(l)(4).
Frequently Asked Questions
Does Mission have a dark-sky ordinance?
Do the lighting limits apply to houses?
Can the city make a business fix a glaring light?
Sources & Official References
Other rules in Mission
Texas rules heatmap·Compare Mission to another location·View the Texas outdoor lighting overview
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Dark Sky Rules in Nearby Cities
How other cities in Hidalgo County handle dark sky rules.