North Las Vegas, NV Outdoor Lighting: Dark Sky Rules (2026)
Key Facts
- Core standard
- Full-cutoff shielding required (§17.24.080.A.2.b)
- Aim requirement
- Deflect light away from residential zones/streets
- Bulb restriction
- Bare incandescent bulbs barred from view
- Color rule
- Blue-white fluorescent/mercury vapor lamps prohibited
- Lighting plan
- Licensed engineer's photometric plan for multi-family+
Summary
North Las Vegas requires all exterior lighting for parking areas, signs, and structures to be shielded so it does not spill onto neighboring property or the night sky. Section 17.24.080.A.2 requires lighting to be arranged so as to deflect light away from any adjoining residential zone or from the public streets, and to carry full-cutoff shielding so that light will not spill out onto surrounding properties or project above the horizontal plane.
a.Lighting shall be arranged so as to deflect light away from any adjoining residential zone or from the public streets.b.Exterior lighting shall have full-cutoff shielding so that light will not spill out onto surrounding properties or project above the horizontal plane. ... c.Bare incandescent light bulbs shall not be permitted in view of adjacent property or public right-of-way. Wall mounted lights shall be directed downward. Soffit or canopy mounted light fixtures should be recessed in the soffit or otherwise fully shielded.
Official source re-checked September 7, 2026: no newer edition of the code had been published (publisher’s edition: Code of Ordinances: Supplement 146 Update 1).
Full Breakdown
A, applies to any lighting used for an off-street parking area, a sign, a structure, or a pedestrian area such as a trail or open space. 2, titled Light Shielding, sets the core dark-sky requirement: lighting must be arranged to deflect light away from adjoining residential zones and public streets, and exterior fixtures must use full-cutoff shielding so light does not spill onto surrounding properties or project above the horizontal plane. c adds fixture-level detail, bare incandescent bulbs are barred from view of adjacent property or the right-of-way, wall-mounted lights must be directed downward, and soffit- or canopy-mounted fixtures should be recessed or otherwise fully shielded.
Ground-mounted or upward-directional lighting is permitted only where shielding or baffling creates a soft, uniform light and minimizes spillage beyond the wall or sign being lit. e states that warm lighting colors are encouraged while the blue-white colors of fluorescent and mercury vapor lamps are prohibited. B requires a detailed lighting plan, including fixture types, locations, and a photometric plan, prepared by a licensed electrical engineer and submitted with the building permit application.
Violations & Fines
Installing unshielded fixtures that deflect light toward a residential zone or a public street is a Title 17 Code violation under Section 17.28.200. The Director issues a written correction order, and noncompliance is a misdemeanor carrying up to a $1,000 fine, up to six months in jail, or both, with each day the unshielded fixture stays lit counted as a separate offense.
Frequently Asked Questions
Does North Las Vegas require full-cutoff light fixtures?
Can I use blue-white LED or fluorescent fixtures outside my business?
Do I need an engineer to design my parking lot lighting?
Sources & Official References
Other rules in North Las Vegas
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Dark Sky Rules in Nearby Cities
How other cities in Clark County handle dark sky rules.