Tinley Park, IL Outdoor Lighting: Dark Sky Rules (2026)

Tinley Park addresses outdoor lighting primarily through commercial site design standards in the zoning ordinance and general nuisance provisions for residential situations. Commercial developments must submit photometric plans showing full-cutoff or shielded fixtures that limit light trespass onto adjacent properties (typically 0.5 foot-candles at residential property lines and 1.0 foot-candle at commercial property lines). Parking lot lighting must use full-cutoff fixtures, and illumination should be reduced after business hours where feasible. Residential outdoor lighting is not strictly regulated but should be directed downward, shielded, and not cause substantial light spill or glare onto neighboring properties. Tinley Park is a full-service suburb with significant streetlighting along major corridors and neighborhood subdivisions, so the night sky is not dark by International Dark-Sky Association standards. Residents interested in stargazing may drive to less developed areas outside the Chicago metro. LED streetlight installations have been moderated with warm-color correlated color temperatures to reduce blue light effects on wildlife.