Plano, TX Outdoor Lighting: Dark Sky Rules (2026)
Key Facts
- Sky glow standard
- must conform to §6-469(a)(1) (§6-474(d))
- Single-family lot-line limit
- 0.25 footcandles horizontal/vertical (Table 1)
- Light-industrial lot-line limit
- 5.0 footcandles (Table 1)
- Single-family luminance limit
- 0.02 (Table 2)
- Measurement method allowed
- computed via Illuminating Engineering Society method (§6-472)
Summary
Plano caps how much light can spill onto neighboring property to control sky glow: Sec. 6-474(d) ties outdoor fixtures to the footcandle and luminance tables in Sec. 6-469(a)(1), which range from 0.25 footcandles at single-family lot lines up to 5.0 footcandles in light-industrial districts.
(d)Sky glow external outdoor lights shall be constructed and installed in a manner so as to conform with the requirements in subsection 6-469 (a)(1). ... (a)Light is presumed to be unreasonable and declared a light nuisance if:(1)The illumination or luminance is in excess of the limitations... Table 1: Illumination Limits — Single-family and two-family residential districts 0.25 0.25; Multiple-family residential districts 0.5 0.5; Nonresidential districts, streets 3.0 3.0; Light industrial districts 5.0 5.0. (B) Maximum computed or measured footcandles at the neighboring property line shall not exceed the limits found in this table.
Official source re-checked September 7, 2026: no newer edition of the code had been published (publisher’s edition: Code of Ordinances: Supplement 153).
Full Breakdown
Plano ties outdoor lighting's effect on the night sky directly to numeric limits. Sec. " That subsection presumes light "unreasonable and declared a light nuisance" whenever illumination or luminance measured at a neighboring property line exceeds the tables it sets out. 0 for light-industrial districts. 50 for light-industrial. Both tables state the limit is set "based on the zoning category of the neighboring property," so a business next to a house is held to the stricter residential number at that shared line. Because footcandle meters aren't always practical, Sec.
6-472 allows illumination to be computed instead of measured, using "a generally accepted Illuminating Engineering Society method" with certified photometric data from the fixture or lamp manufacturer and accounting for mounting height and nearby objects. Exceed the tables, and the fixture is presumed a light nuisance under the offense and penalty structure in Sec. 6-468 and Sec. 6-477, up to $2,000 per day.
Violations & Fines
Exceeding the footcandle or luminance limits at a neighboring property line creates a legal presumption of a light nuisance under Sec. 6-469(a), which triggers the offense in Sec. 6-468 and the Sec. 6-477 penalty schedule: up to $2,000 for a first violation, with escalating minimum fines of $500 and $1,000 for repeat convictions within three years, enforced by the city manager or designee.
Frequently Asked Questions
How bright can a neighbor's outdoor light be at my property line?
What does Plano mean by "sky glow"?
How is compliance measured if I can't put a meter on the property line?
What happens if my lighting exceeds the sky-glow tables?
Sources & Official References
Other rules in Plano
Texas rules heatmap·Compare Plano to another location·View the Texas outdoor lighting overview
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Dark Sky Rules in Nearby Cities
How other cities in Collin County handle dark sky rules.