Oro Valley, AZ Outdoor Lighting: Dark Sky Rules (2026)

The Town of Oro Valley Outdoor Lighting Code is among the most stringent dark-sky ordinances in Arizona, adopted to protect the night sky environment of the Catalina foothills and support astronomical research at nearby observatories including Kitt Peak and Mount Lemmon. All outdoor lighting fixtures must be fully shielded (full-cutoff) with no light emitted above the horizontal plane. Correlated color temperature (CCT) is limited to 3000 Kelvin or lower for all exterior fixtures, effectively prohibiting cool-white and blue-rich LED lighting. Total outdoor light output for residential properties is capped based on lot size, typically not exceeding 10,000 lumens for standard residential lots. Uplighting of buildings, landscaping, or architectural features is prohibited. Security lighting must be motion-activated with automatic shutoff timers not exceeding 10 minutes. New development and major renovations must submit a lighting plan demonstrating compliance. Existing non-conforming fixtures must be replaced with compliant fixtures upon failure or renovation. Commercial properties face additional restrictions including curfew provisions that require non-essential lighting to be extinguished or reduced by 50 percent after 11 PM.