Rowlett, TX Outdoor Lighting: Dark Sky Rules (2026)
Key Facts
- Upward light rule
- Can't clear the roofline
- Stated purpose
- Recapture night-sky views
- Applies
- Once lighting is installed
- Mandatory?
- Not mandatory except for safety
Summary
Rowlett's Development Code directs exterior lighting to control light pollution and recapture views to the night sky, requiring that upward-directed architectural and decorative lighting stay invisible above a building's roofline once installed.
(7)For upward-directed architectural, landscape, and decorative lighting, direct light emissions shall not be visible above the building roof line.(8)No flickering or flashing lights shall be permitted, except for temporary decorative seasonal lighting.(e)Height standards for lighting.(1)In MU-DT, MU-TR, and MU-TS Districts—Downtown. All exterior lighting luminaries shall be mounted no higher than 15 feet.(2)In C-2 District—Lakeview Parkway Corridor. All exterior lighting luminaries shall be mounted no higher than 15 feet, except that lighting in parking lots containing more than 100 spaces shall have a maximum height of 25 feet.(3)In C-3 District—President George Bush Turnpike Corridor south. All exterior lighting luminaries shall be mounted no higher than 25 feet, except that lighting in parking lots containing more than 100 spaces shall have a maximum height of 35 feet, and exterior lighting luminaries within residential developments shall be mounted no higher than 15 feet.(4)In MU-WF District—Waterfront Area. All exterior lighting luminaries shall be mounted no higher than 15 feet.(5)In other zone districts. All exterior lighting luminaries shall be mounted no higher than 15 feet, except that lighting in parking lots containing more than 100 spaces shall have a maximum height of 25 feet. (Ord. No. 025-06, § 1(Exh. A), 6-6-2006; Ord. No. 016-09, § 21, 6-2-2009; Ord. No. 022-14, § 7, 6-3-2014)
Official source re-checked September 7, 2026: no newer edition of the code had been published (publisher’s edition: Code of Ordinances: Supplement 29).
Full Breakdown
Rowlett's exterior-lighting standards (§ 77-510) state that one purpose of the section is to control light pollution and recapture views to the night sky. Installed lighting isn't mandatory except for public safety, but any exterior lighting that is installed must meet the section's design standards, including a rule that upward-directed architectural, landscape, and decorative lighting can't emit light visible above the building's roofline. Combined with the section's separate shielding and cutoff-angle rules, this keeps light aimed down at the ground rather than escaping into the sky.
Violations & Fines
Installed lighting that fails the roofline, shielding, or cutoff-angle standards is non-compliant at site-plan review; the city can require redesign or removal before occupancy issues.
Frequently Asked Questions
Can Rowlett buildings point floodlights up at the sky or facade?
Is dark-sky lighting mandatory for all Rowlett properties?
Sources & Official References
Other rules in Rowlett
Texas rules heatmap·Compare Rowlett to another location·View the Texas outdoor lighting overview
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Dark Sky Rules in Nearby Cities
How other cities in Dallas County handle dark sky rules.