Schaumburg, IL Outdoor Lighting: Dark Sky Rules (2026)

2 governs site and parking lot lighting for any parking lot or loading area with more than four parking spaces or two loading areas, plus associated driveways and walkways. Subsection (C) puts the community development department in charge of approving the type of luminaires, lamps, shielding, pole height and design, foundations and the overall lighting scheme. All luminaires must be full cutoff design, and any luminaire adjacent to a residential area must carry a flat lens and be enclosed to minimize spill light and uplight.

Lamps are limited to high pressure sodium, metal halide or LED. Shielding must be provided wherever necessary to control spill light and glare, and wall-mounted fixtures must direct light downward, use full cutoff design, and be fully shielded when aimed toward residential property or a public right-of-way. 2(C)(9) lets the village require the fixture type be changed. Decorative poles and fixtures are allowed only with specific village approval and, per subsection (D), the fixture lens must be textured to diffuse output and cut glare, with a reflector or concealed lamp directing light down.

Detailed photometric plans documenting fixture type, mounting height and layout are required as part of the land development permit engineering submission, so the shielding standard is checked before construction, not just after complaints arise.