Pinal County adopts a dark-sky outdoor lighting ordinance (Development Services Code Chapter 2.195) and follows Arizona's light-pollution law, which requires outdoor light fixtures to be fully or partially shielded. Shielded, warm-color, lower-lumen lighting protects the region's dark night skies and observatories.
Pinal County promotes dark skies and regulates outdoor lighting under Development Services Code Chapter 2.195. The county's rules align with Arizona's statewide light-pollution statute (A.R.S. 49-1101 et seq., in force since 1986), which was enacted to protect the dark skies over Arizona's astronomical observatories, including facilities near Kitt Peak. Under A.R.S. 49-1102, all outdoor light fixtures must be fully or partially shielded, except incandescent fixtures of 150 watts or less and other sources of 70 watts or less. The county encourages shielding light sources, using warm-color, lower-lumen bulbs, and adding timers and motion sensors. Fully shielded means light is projected below the horizontal plane so it does not spill upward into the sky.
Non-conforming outdoor lighting can be cited as a zoning/code violation; the county may require retrofitting fixtures to meet the shielding standard, with fines for continued non-compliance.
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See how Pinal County's dark sky rules rules stack up against other locations.
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