Queen Creek, AZ Outdoor Lighting: Dark Sky Rules (2026)

The Town of Queen Creek addresses outdoor lighting through its Zoning Ordinance, which is designed to establish standards that minimize light pollution, prevent direct light-trespass onto abutting properties, reduce glare, and conserve energy while still providing for night lighting and security. The ordinance requires that lighting sources be down-lighting and fully shielded to prevent direct light trespass onto any adjacent property. "Fully shielded" is defined to mean fixtures shielded so that light rays emitted by the fixture, either directly from the lamp or indirectly from the fixture, are projected below a horizontal plane running through the lowest point on the fixture where light is emitted, preventing any light trespass from extending beyond the subject property's boundaries and onto abutting properties. This down-lighting / full-shielding standard is the core of Queen Creek's dark-sky approach: rather than relying on a regional dark-sky lighting code, the Town controls glare and spill at the fixture level through its zoning standards. The ordinance applies to new development and lighting installations reviewed by Planning. Because specific standards (such as fixture types, mounting heights, and any zoning-district-specific limits) are set within the Zoning Ordinance, the Town directs applicants to confirm current lighting requirements with Planning Staff at 480-358-3092.