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San Antonio, TX Outdoor Lighting: Dark Sky Rules (2026)

Q: Does San Antonio require shielded outdoor lighting?

Yes. Any residential fixture producing zero or more foot-candles at the property line must be full cutoff under Sec. 35-392(a), meaning no light is emitted above a 90-degree lateral angle around the fixture, so light stays off neighboring properties and away from traffic.

Q: How tall can a parking lot light pole be in San Antonio?

It depends on the fixture's shielding: poles with a cutoff angle under 90 degrees, better-controlled fixtures, can reach 30 feet, while poles with a cutoff angle of 90 degrees or more are capped at 15 feet, under Sec. 35-392(b).

Q: What counts as a 'full cutoff' light fixture under San Antonio's code?

One that emits no light output above ninety degrees at any lateral angle around the fixture, per Sec. 35-392(a)(1). That means the light source is fully shielded from view and directed downward rather than outward or upward past horizontal toward neighboring properties or the sky.

Some Restrictions

Compiled from the official code textEditor Martyn O'NeillLast verified August 2026

Key Facts

Residential fixture standard: Full cutoff, 0+ foot-candles at property line
Pole height, cutoff angle <90°: Max 30 feet
Pole height, cutoff angle 90°+: Max 15 feet
Cutoff definition: No light output above 90° lateral angle
Governing section: UDC Sec. 35-392, Illumination of Uses

Summary

San Antonio requires full-cutoff fixtures on residential lighting that reaches the property line, and caps parking-lot light poles at 15 to 30 feet depending on the fixture's cutoff angle, under UDC Sec. 35-392. Every light source must be shielded so its output stays off adjacent residential land and out of traffic.

(a)Lighting facilities used to light signs, parking areas, or for other purposes, including high intensity residential lighting and light from residentially used properties, shall be so arranged that the source if light is concealed from adjacent residential properties. It shall be arranged so that it does not interfere with traffic.1.All lighting fixtures installed on any residential property and which include or exceed zero (0) foot-candles, measured at the property line, shall be fitted to render them full cutoff (no light output emitted above ninety (90) degrees at any lateral angle around the fixture).(b)Lights illuminating off-street parking or loading areas shall comply with the following standards as a protection against excessive glare and light spilling over to adjacent properties.(1)When a light source has elements such as shields, reflectors, or refractor panels which direct and cut off the light at a cutoff angle that is less than ninety (90) degrees, the maximum permitted height shall be thirty (30) feet.(2)When a light source has a cutoff angle of ninety (90) degrees or greater, the maximum permitted height shall be fifteen (15) feet.

Source: UDC § 35-392 Illumination of Uses (Outdoor Lighting Standards)View official code

Full Breakdown

Sec. 35-392 of the Unified Development Code regulates glare and light trespass from signs, parking areas, and residential lighting across San Antonio. Subsection (a) requires that any lighting reaching high intensity or crossing onto adjacent residential property be arranged so the light source itself is concealed from neighboring residences and does not interfere with traffic. Any fixture on residential property that produces zero foot-candles or more measured at the property line must be full cutoff, meaning no light output is emitted above ninety degrees at any lateral angle around the fixture, essentially requiring the bulb to be shielded so no direct light escapes upward or outward past horizontal.

Subsection (b) sets height limits for lights illuminating off-street parking or loading areas as an added protection against glare and spillover onto neighboring properties: where the fixture's shields, reflectors, or refractor panels cut off light at an angle of less than ninety degrees, the pole can rise to a maximum of 30 feet; where the cutoff angle is ninety degrees or greater (a less controlled, more glare-prone fixture), the maximum drops to 15 feet. The rule effectively trades pole height for shielding quality: better-controlled fixtures earn twice the mounting height of poorly shielded ones. These standards apply chapter-wide to nonresidential parking and loading lighting as well as to high-intensity lighting on residential lots.

Violations & Fines

Installing unshielded lighting that spills onto a neighboring residential lot, or a parking-lot fixture that exceeds the height allowed for its cutoff angle, violates Sec. 35-392 and is enforced as an Article III zoning violation under Sec. 35-491(c)(2): a $100 to $2,000 criminal fine per day, rising to $200 on a second conviction and $300 on later ones, plus a possible civil penalty up to $1,000 per day.

Frequently Asked Questions

Does San Antonio require shielded outdoor lighting?

Yes. Any residential fixture producing zero or more foot-candles at the property line must be full cutoff under Sec. 35-392(a), meaning no light is emitted above a 90-degree lateral angle around the fixture, so light stays off neighboring properties and away from traffic.

How tall can a parking lot light pole be in San Antonio?

It depends on the fixture's shielding: poles with a cutoff angle under 90 degrees, better-controlled fixtures, can reach 30 feet, while poles with a cutoff angle of 90 degrees or more are capped at 15 feet, under Sec. 35-392(b).

What counts as a 'full cutoff' light fixture under San Antonio's code?

One that emits no light output above ninety degrees at any lateral angle around the fixture, per Sec. 35-392(a)(1). That means the light source is fully shielded from view and directed downward rather than outward or upward past horizontal toward neighboring properties or the sky.

Sources & Official References

[1]San Antonio Unified Development Code § 35-392, Illumination of Uses

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