St. Louis County, MN Outdoor Lighting: Dark Sky Rules (2026)

St. Louis County's zoning code builds its dark-sky rule around one Article II definition: Dark Sky Compliant illumination is lighting that restricts the amount of upward-directed light, avoids glare, avoids over-lighting, utilizes dimming and other appropriate lighting controls, and minimizes short-wavelength light in the nighttime environment. 12, the outdoor sign standards that apply to every land use permit for a sign outside the shoreland overlay. b bars a sign lit in a way that obscures an official traffic sign or signal. c then layers the dark-sky standard on top: downward, back lighted, internally lighted, or otherwise dark sky compliant standards shall be utilized to the greatest extent possible unless there is a site-specific reason prohibiting or limiting such lighting.

c, so the requirement reaches inland and lakeshore properties alike. It is a "greatest extent possible" directive rather than a numeric lumen or fixture-height cap, and an applicant can document a site-specific reason to depart from it when the Planning and Zoning Department reviews the land use permit for the sign. K requires them for recreational vehicle parks and campgrounds.