St. George, UT Outdoor Lighting: Dark Sky Rules (2026)
Key Facts
- Max property light height
- 30 feet
- Shielding requirement
- Fully opaque, downward-directed
- Exempt
- Detached single-family dwellings
- Property line limit
- 1 foot-candle max
- Enforcing dept
- Community Development Department
Summary
St. George requires all outdoor lighting be fully shielded and downward-directed, banning direct light into the night sky and light trespass onto neighboring property, with exemptions for single-family homes and low-output fixtures.
A. Applicability: All outdoor lighting shall conform to the requirements of this chapter, excluding lighting for detached single-family dwellings. B. General Standards: 1. Light Shielding and Direction: ... all outdoor lighting shall be fully shielded and downward directed... a. No artificial light source shall project direct artificial light into the nighttime sky; b. No artificial light source shall be placed at a location, angle, or height that creates a light trespass;
Official source re-checked September 8, 2026: no newer edition of the code had been published (publisher’s edition: current through Ordinance 2026-062, passed August 6, 2026).
Full Breakdown
City Code Chapter 10-14 requires nearly all outdoor lighting citywide to be fully shielded and downward-directed: no fixture may project light directly into the night sky or create trespass onto neighboring property, and shielding must be fully opaque with no perforations or translucent panels. Property lighting is capped at 30 feet in height, spot and flood lighting from buildings is banned outright, and parking lots must use full cutoff fixtures. Detached single-family homes are exempt, along with flag lighting, temporary seasonal displays, low-output and motion-sensor fixtures, and FAA/FCC-required tower lighting.
Violations & Fines
Noncompliant lighting blocks permit approval: applicants must submit a photometric plan and light-source specifications proving compliance before the community development department will approve any outdoor lighting installation.
Frequently Asked Questions
Does this apply to my house in St. George?
Can I use flood lights on my building?
Sources & Official References
Other rules in St. George
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