Washington County, OR Outdoor Lighting: Dark Sky Rules (2026)
Key Facts
- No-cutoff fixture cap
- 10 ft residential / 20 ft commercial
- Full-cutoff fixture cap
- Up to 40 ft in commercial districts
- Brightest allowed level
- 3.0 foot-candles, cutoff under 90°
- Applies to
- New attached-unit and non-residential builds
- Recreation exemption
- Ball fields/courts up to 80 ft
Summary
Exterior lighting on new attached-unit and non-residential developments in unincorporated Washington County must meet cutoff standards tied to fixture height. Section 415-4 lets a shielded, cutoff-type luminaire climb to 40 feet in commercial and industrial districts, while unshielded fixtures are capped at 10 to 20 feet under lower brightness limits.
415-4Standards The following standards are required of all exterior lighting except the outdoor recreational uses specifically exempted below. ... 415-4.3When a luminaire has total cutoff of light at an angle less than 90 degrees (Figure 1) and is located so that the bare light bulb, lamp, or light source is completely shielded from the direct view of an observer 5 feet above the ground at the point where the cutoff angle intersects the ground, then the maximum permitted illumination and the maximum permitted height of the luminaire shall be: Residential & Institutional 0.5, 20 feet; Commercial & Industrial 3.0, 40 feet.
Official source re-checked September 7, 2026: no newer edition of the code had been published (publisher’s edition: Community Development Code: Supplement 2 | Code of Ordinances: Supplement 25).
Full Breakdown
Section 415 of the Community Development Code governs exterior lighting for new developments of attached dwelling units, plus non-residential and multi-unit structures, though it exempts detached dwellings and attached buildings of fewer than three units from its lighting plan requirement under Section 415-1. Section 415-4 sets three tiers of standards keyed to how completely a luminaire's light is cut off above a given angle. 30 foot-candles and 20 feet in Commercial and Industrial districts. 0 foot-candles respectively. 5 foot-candles. 4 defines a cutoff-type luminaire as one using shields, reflectors, or refractor panels to direct and cut off light at an angle less than 90 degrees. 4.
Violations & Fines
Installing an uncapped or unshielded light fixture above its tier's height and brightness limit under Section 415-4 violates Section 215-1's bar on developing land contrary to the Code. The Director can deny or condition a development or building permit for the site under Section 215-2 until the fixture is brought into compliance, and continuing violations are prosecuted under Chapter 1.14 of the Washington County Code per Section 215-3.
Frequently Asked Questions
How tall can a light pole be on a new apartment development in unincorporated Washington County?
Do detached single-family homes have to meet these lighting standards?
Are sports field lights held to the same cutoff rules?
Sources & Official References
Other rules in Washington County
Compare Washington County to another location·View the Oregon outdoor lighting overview
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