Sahuarita, AZ Outdoor Lighting: Dark Sky Rules (2026)
Key Facts
- Adopted code
- 2012 Sahuarita Outdoor Lighting Code (Jan. 14, 2013)
- Adopting section
- STC Section 15.05.020(A)(10)
- Zoning cross-reference
- Exterior lighting must eliminate glare, STC 18.49.040(J)
- Public record
- Copies on file with town clerk, STC 15.05.040
- Violation classification
- Civil infraction, each day a separate offense
Summary
Sahuarita adopted its own 2012 Outdoor Lighting Code by reference under Town Code Section 15.05.020, and zoning standards separately require exterior illumination to be arranged to eliminate glare toward streets and neighboring properties. Enforcement runs through the same civil-infraction penalty that covers every other adopted building and construction code.
§ 15.05.020. Building code adopted. A. The Sahuarita building code, codified in this chapter, adopts by reference the following national codes of the International Code Council, Inc., and the National Fire Protection Association, Inc., as amended: ... 10. The 2012 Sahuarita Outdoor Lighting Code, dated January 14, 2013; ... § 18.49.040. Development standards – General. ... J. Exterior Illumination. 1. Illumination of buildings and parking areas shall have a low profile and consist of the most appropriate state-of-the-art type lights; 2. Lighting shall be arranged to eliminate glare towards streets and adjoining properties and shall meet all conditions of the town lighting code.
Official source re-checked September 7, 2026: no newer edition of the code had been published (publisher’s edition: rev 4745395; v0 updated 2025-12-08; through 12-08-2025).
Full Breakdown
020(A)(10) names the '2012 Sahuarita Outdoor Lighting Code, dated January 14, 2013' as one of the ten national and local codes adopted by reference in Title 15, Buildings and Construction, alongside the building, fire, plumbing and electrical codes. 040 and are open for public inspection during regular working hours. The town's zoning ordinance separately writes lighting-control language into individual development standards rather than leaving it to a single citywide fixture-shielding table. 040(J), 'Exterior Illumination,' building and parking-area lighting must have a low profile using state-of-the-art fixtures, and must be arranged to eliminate glare toward streets and adjoining properties while meeting all conditions of the town lighting code.
The same glare-elimination and lighting-code cross-reference language appears in the conditional-use standards for private schools and other uses, showing the adopted 2012 lighting code operates as a standard every zoning district and use permit is measured against, not a stand-alone aesthetic suggestion. 060, with each day of a noncompliant fixture or unshielded light counted as a separate offense, and the town retains authority to seek a restraining order or injunction in addition to any civil fine.
Violations & Fines
An outdoor light fixture that fails to meet the adopted 2012 Sahuarita Outdoor Lighting Code, or that violates a zoning condition requiring glare to be eliminated toward streets and adjoining properties, is a civil infraction under Section 15.05.060. Each day the fixture remains out of compliance is a separate offense, and the town may seek a court injunction to force shielding or removal in addition to any fine.
Frequently Asked Questions
Does Sahuarita have its own outdoor lighting ordinance?
What does zoning require for exterior lighting near neighbors?
What happens if a business or homeowner ignores the lighting code?
Sources & Official References
Other rules in Sahuarita
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