Bellingham, WA Outdoor Lighting: Light Trespass & Shielding (2026)
Key Facts
- Max light trespass
- 1.5 footcandles at property line
- Wall-pack floodlights
- 100-watt max, shielded downward
- Gas canopy lighting
- 250-watt recessed bulbs max
- Applies to
- Fountain District urban village only
Summary
In Bellingham's Fountain District urban village, exterior building and aesthetic lighting can't exceed 1.5 footcandles of glare or light trespass at the property line, with separate wattage caps for wall-pack floodlights and gas station canopy lights.
Building and aesthetic lighting must be shielded to prevent direct glare and/or light trespass in excess of one and one-half footcandles at the property line, except along Meridian Street in the commercial core. Wall packs (flood lights) on buildings may be used at entrances... Wall packs must be fully shielded to direct the light downward. Maximum bulb wattage is 100 watts.
Official source re-checked September 8, 2026: no newer edition of the code had been published (publisher’s edition: current through Ordinance 2026-06-015, passed June 1, 2026).
Full Breakdown
BMC 20.37.280 sets lighting standards specific to the Fountain District urban village's commercial core and commercial transition areas: building and aesthetic lighting must be shielded to keep direct glare and light trespass under one and one-half footcandles at the property line (Meridian Street's commercial core frontage is exempted), wall-pack floodlights are capped at 100 watts and must be fully shielded downward, and gas/service station canopy lighting is limited to 250-watt recessed fixtures with no bulbs projecting below the canopy. Bellingham has no single citywide light-pollution ordinance; other urban villages, including Waterfront (BMC 20.37.440) and Barkley (BMC 20.37.640), separately require new development to shield and direct lighting downward under their own sustainability chapters.
Violations & Fines
Violations of Title 20 development standards, including lighting requirements, are civil infractions under BMC 20.52.010: up to $500 for a first offense and $1,000 for a second, with each continuing day a separate violation.
Frequently Asked Questions
Does this footcandle limit apply citywide in Bellingham?
What's the penalty for exceeding Bellingham's outdoor lighting limits?
Sources & Official References
Other rules in Bellingham
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