Avondale, AZ Outdoor Lighting: Light Trespass & Shielding (2026)
Key Facts
- Trespass threshold
- 1 foot-candle at property line
- Applies to
- Recreational, sign, security, parking lighting
- 150W+ recreational curfew
- Off by 11:00 p.m. near residential
- Searchlight curfew (May-Oct)
- 11:00 p.m. to 6:00 a.m.
- Noncompliant lighting
- Requires a conditional use permit
Summary
Avondale caps light trespass at one foot-candle measured at the property line contiguous to a residential district or use, under zoning ordinance section 28-137. Recreational-facility lighting, illuminated sign faces, and general security or parking lighting must all be shielded so no light is cast onto, or visible from, a neighbor's property.
For the purposes of this Section, "visible from contiguous real property" means any light levels that exceed 1-foot candle at the property line...(c)(1)(C)Lights or illuminating units shall not cause light to be cast upon any contiguous real property, either directly or through a reflecting device.(2)(C)Shields shall be provided to control external glare and minimize up-light and off-site light trespass so that light levels do not exceed one (1) foot candle at the property line contiguous to residential districts or uses.(3)Sign lighting. External lighting of the face of signs, where permitted, shall be placed above the sign and shielded in a manner that the illumination source is not be visible from any contiguous lot or real property.
Official source re-checked September 7, 2026: no newer edition of the code had been published (publisher’s edition: Code of Ordinances: Supplement 38 Update 1).
Full Breakdown
Section 28-137(a) defines "visible from contiguous real property" as any light level that exceeds one foot-candle at the property line, the technical trigger for a trespass violation. That standard shows up throughout the article: subsection (c)(1)(C) bars small-scale recreational lighting from casting light onto any contiguous property, directly or by reflection; subsection (c)(2)(C) requires shields on large-scale recreational lighting, such as ball fields, so light levels stay at or under one foot-candle at the line adjoining residential districts; and subsection (c)(4)(B) applies the same no-cast, no-visible rule to general security, parking, landscape and architectural lighting.
Sign lighting gets its own clause in subsection (c)(3): external light on a sign face must sit above the sign and be shielded so the light source itself isn't visible from any contiguous lot. with a city clerk-approved special event permit. from November through April, and they can never be aimed at a residentially zoned property outside a grand-opening event.
Violations & Fines
Subsection (f) makes any lighting that fails these trespass standards, including exceeding the one foot-candle limit at a contiguous residential line, subject to a conditional use permit that the city council may grant or deny at its sole discretion. A property owner running unshielded or over-limit lighting can be required to retrofit shielding or shut fixtures off entirely as a condition of that review.
Frequently Asked Questions
What light level counts as trespass in Avondale?
Can my neighbor's ballfield lights shine onto my yard at night?
Are illuminated sign faces regulated for glare onto neighboring lots?
When can a business run a searchlight in Avondale?
Sources & Official References
Other rules in Avondale
Compare Avondale to another location·View the Arizona outdoor lighting overview
See something wrong?
Help us keep this page accurate. If you notice an error or outdated information, let us know.
Light Trespass & Shielding in Nearby Cities
How other cities in Maricopa County handle light trespass & shielding.