Washington County, MN Outdoor Lighting: Dark Sky Rules (2026)
Key Facts
- Shielding standard
- Fixtures must be hooded to deflect light off-site
- Bare bulbs
- Prohibited if visible from adjacent property or ROW
- Measurement method
- Meter held 6 inches above ground, after dark
- Grandfathering
- Pre-2018 fixtures exempt until replaced
- Effective date
- June 5, 2018
- Enforcement
- Misdemeanor, separate offense per day
Summary
Washington County's Development Code requires outdoor lighting fixtures illuminating parking areas, structures or other areas to deflect light away from adjoining residential property and public streets. Fixtures must be hooded or otherwise controlled so bare light bulbs are never visible from adjacent property or the right-of-way, keeping intensity within the county's 0.4 foot-candle limit.
1. Shielding. The light source shall be hooded or controlled to prevent lighting of adjacent property in excess of the maximum intensity defined in Section 1.8 (4) (A) 2. Bare light bulbs that are visible from adjacent property or public right of way are prohibited.
Full Breakdown
8 of Chapter Two governs every outdoor light source located outside a building, from pole-mounted fixtures to lights attached to structures. Any lighting used to illuminate an off-street parking area, structure, or other area must be arranged to deflect light away from adjoining residential property or the public street. 8(4)(A)2, and it flatly bans bare light bulbs visible from adjacent property or the public right-of-way. Fixtures lawfully installed before the Development Code's June 5, 2018 effective date are grandfathered as nonconforming, but once an existing fixture is replaced, the replacement must meet current shielding and intensity standards.
The code defines 'Cutoff Type Luminaire' as a fixture with shields, reflectors, or refractor panels that cut off light at an angle under 90 degrees, and requires light intensity to be measured after dark with a meter held six inches above the ground. Anyone applying for a permit requiring outdoor lighting must submit plans showing fixture locations, descriptions of the lamps and supports, and photometric data showing the cutoff angle before the county will approve the lighting.
Violations & Fines
Installing or maintaining an unshielded fixture, or one whose bare bulb is visible from a neighbor's yard or the road, violates Section 1.8(4)(A)1 of the Development Code. Because outdoor lighting sits inside Chapter Two's zoning regulations, a violation is a misdemeanor under Section 9.1, with each day the fixture stays unshielded counted as a separate offense.
Frequently Asked Questions
Does Washington County require outdoor light fixtures to be shielded?
Is my existing outdoor light grandfathered under the new lighting rules?
What has to be submitted with a permit application involving outdoor lighting?
Sources & Official References
Other rules in Washington County
Compare Washington County to another location·View the Minnesota outdoor lighting overview
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