Sedona, AZ Outdoor Lighting: Dark Sky Rules (2026)

Sedona's outdoor lighting standards are codified in the Land Development Code Section 3.4 and implement Arizona Revised Statutes 49-1101 through 49-1106 (the state outdoor lighting statute). All new and replacement fixtures must be fully shielded so that no light is emitted above the horizontal plane through the lowest point of the fixture. Lamp color temperature is capped at 3000 Kelvin, and only narrow-spectrum or filtered LED, low-pressure sodium, and other amber-leaning sources qualify. Each parcel receives a maximum lumen allowance based on lot size and use; commercial and resort properties have a per-acre cap that includes all wall packs, canopy lights, and landscape lighting combined. Lighting must be extinguished, dimmed, or controlled by motion sensors between 10:00 PM and sunrise except for code-required security lighting. Sedona has been IDA-certified since 2014 and works with the International Dark-Sky Association (IDA) to maintain the designation. Uplighting of buildings, flags, trees, and signs is prohibited except for the U.S. flag with low-output, narrow-beam fixtures.