Wilmington, DE Outdoor Lighting: Dark Sky Rules (2026)
Key Facts
- Rule
- Light confined to parking lot surface
- Citation
- Wilmington City Code § 48-511(5)
- Applies to
- All parking lots, residential and commercial
- Enforced by
- Licenses and Inspections, Public Works
Summary
City zoning law requires all parking lot lighting to be arranged so direct rays stay confined to the lot surface itself, preventing glare and light spillover onto neighboring properties or streets.
Any lighting used to illuminate it or any accessory structure shall be so arranged that all direct rays of light are confined to the surface of the parking lot;(6)No building permit shall be issued for a parking lot until the application for the same has been submitted to the department of public works for review and report and such report is received by the department of licenses and inspection; and(7)All non-residential parking lot designs should incorporate current storm water management best practices, where practical, as described in section 11-311, to reduce storm water runoff to the city's combined sewer overflow system and to enhance the quality of storm water discharge. Non-residential parking lot owners may apply to the department of public works for storm water credits outlined in the city storm water credits and fee adjustment appeals manual, which may result in lower quarterly storm water charges. (Code 1968, § 48-50(a); Ord. No. 09-044, § 4, 8-27-09; Ord. No. 18-033, § 6, 7-12-18)
Secs. 48-512—48-520. - Reserved. Subdivision II. - Landscaping Requirements
Footnotes: --- (8) --- Cross reference— Vegetation, ch. 46.
Official source re-checked September 7, 2026: no newer edition of the code had been published (publisher’s edition: Code of Ordinances: Supplement 72).
Full Breakdown
Wilmington's zoning code regulates every parking lot in the city, from a single accessory space behind a rowhouse to a commercial surface lot downtown. Under Sec. 48-511(5), any lighting used to illuminate a parking lot or its accessory structures must be arranged so that all direct rays of light are confined to the surface of the lot itself. That bars floodlights or fixtures aimed outward toward adjacent yards, sidewalks, or streets. The department of licenses and inspections reviews lighting as part of the parking lot site plan and building permit process before construction can proceed.
Violations & Fines
Parking lots built or lit in violation can be denied a building permit, since the department of public works and licenses and inspections must approve the lighting plan before any permit issues.
Frequently Asked Questions
Does Wilmington require full cutoff or dark-sky fixtures?
Does this rule cover house or yard lights too, not just parking lots?
Sources & Official References
Other rules in Wilmington
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