Rockville, MD Outdoor Lighting: Dark Sky Rules (2026)
Key Facts
- Standard
- Light directed down, not skyward
- Applies to
- All zones, citywide
- Exception
- Decorative lighting w/ Planning approval
- Adopted by
- Resolution of Mayor & Council
Summary
Rockville requires every outdoor light fixture citywide to be shielded so it points down toward the ground rather than up into the sky, under the binding Landscaping, Screening and Lighting Manual.
All lights must be shielded in such a way as to direct all light towards the Earth's
surface and away from reflective surfaces. Incidental decorative lighting may be
directed towards the sky if approved by the Chief of Planning or the Planning
Commission during the site plan review process.
Landscaping, Screening and Lighting Manual 9
2. Light fixtures of lamps must be shielded / shaded in such a manner as to direct the
incident rays away from all adjacent property.
3. Lights on poles must not be taller than the building whose area they illuminate nor
taller than fifteen feet, whichever is shorter.
4. All fixtures must meet the building code requirements.
5. Any facilities that require floodlighting may not arrange the light in such a way that it
will shine towards a roadway, onto an adjacent residential property or a residential
use property, or into the night sky.
6. All outdoor lighting fixtures must be aimed, located, and maintained so as not to
produce disability glare.
7. High intensity light beams in the form of outdoor searchlights, lasers, or strobe lights
are not permitted except as required by Federal, State, or local public safety
regulations.
e. Alternative Materials and Methods of Installation - The provisions of this manual are not
Full Breakdown
Rockville's Landscaping, Screening and Lighting Manual, made binding citywide through Zoning Ordinance § 25.8.7.1(a), requires every outdoor light fixture installed after adoption to be shielded so light points down toward the ground and away from reflective surfaces rather than up into the sky. The rule applies regardless of zone or location, and fixtures installed before the standard took effect are treated as nonconforming under Article 8 of the Zoning Ordinance. Only incidental decorative lighting can point skyward, and only with advance approval from the Chief of Planning or Planning Commission during site plan review.
Violations & Fines
Anyone can file a written complaint with the Chief of Planning, who must inspect within 30 days; confirmed violations proceed under the Zoning Ordinance's Article 19 Enforcement provisions, which can include a corrective order.
Frequently Asked Questions
Can decorative lighting point upward in Rockville?
Does the dark-sky rule apply everywhere in the city?
Sources & Official References
Other rules in Rockville
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Dark Sky Rules in Nearby Cities
How other cities in Montgomery County handle dark sky rules.