Aurora, IL Outdoor Lighting: Light Trespass & Shielding (2026)
Key Facts
- Rule
- Fixtures must be shielded, aimed away
- Applies to
- All zoning districts citywide
- Governing section
- Code of Ordinances § 49-105.10
- Enforced by
- Zoning Administrator, permit review
Summary
Aurora's zoning code requires every outdoor light fixture to be shielded and aimed so it doesn't glare onto neighboring properties or roadways citywide.
All outdoor lighting fixtures shall be designed, shielded, aimed, located and maintained to shield adjacent properties and not to produce glare onto adjacent properties or roadways.
Full Breakdown
Aurora, Illinois (Kane County) zoning treats outdoor lighting as a performance standard that applies in every zoning district. Under § 49-105.10, all outdoor light fixtures, on homes, businesses, and parking lots alike, must be designed, shielded, aimed, and located so they don't throw glare onto an adjacent property or spill onto a public roadway. The rule isn't tied to a specific footcandle limit; it's a design-and-aim standard enforced through the Zoning Administrator's site plan and building permit review. It applies the same way across Kane, DuPage, Will, and Kendall counties, since the city code governs uniformly within Aurora's corporate limits regardless of county line.
Violations & Fines
An unshielded or misaimed fixture that throws glare onto a neighboring lot or roadway violates § 49-105.10 and can be cited through the city's zoning enforcement process.
Frequently Asked Questions
Can my neighbor's floodlight legally shine into my yard in Aurora?
Does Aurora set a numeric light-trespass limit like footcandles?
Sources & Official References
Other rules in Aurora
Compare Aurora to another location·View the Illinois outdoor lighting overview
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Light Trespass & Shielding in Nearby Cities
How other cities in this county handle light trespass & shielding.