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Bowie, MD Outdoor Lighting: Light Trespass & Shielding (2026)

Light Restrictions
Compiled from the official code textEditor Martyn O'NeillLast verified September 2026

Key Facts

Applies to
Temporary carnival/fair sites only
Standard
No reflect or glare onto residential property
Governing section
§ 3-11, Location
Reviewed at
Permit application stage, § 3-7
First-offense fine
$100 (then $200)

Summary

Bowie's code does not set a citywide light-trespass standard for homes or businesses; the only glare rule on the books sits inside Chapter 3's temporary-use-permit standards for carnivals, fairs and similar amusement uses. Under § 3-11, any lighting installed at a permitted fair or carnival site must be arranged so it does not reflect or cause glare onto neighboring residential properties.

The site of the amusement, carnival, fair or similar use shall be at least 250 feet from any residential dwelling. ... Lighting used on the site shall be so arranged as to not reflect or cause glare into any residential properties.

View official code

Full Breakdown

Section 3-11, 'Location,' sets the siting standard for every temporary amusement, carnival or fair permitted under Chapter 3: the site must sit at least 250 feet from any residential dwelling, and in noncommercial, light- or heavy-industry zones it must be located on a parking lot. Sandwiched in that same section is the City's only printed light-trespass rule: lighting used on the site has to be arranged so it does not reflect or cause glare into any residential properties. The City Manager reviews this at the permit stage under §§ 3-6 through 3-8, since the lighting plan is part of the required application (§ 3-7M asks for the need for electricity and lighting on-site and where lights will be located), and the City Manager can deny or condition the permit if the proposed lighting would spill glare onto neighboring homes.

Because the rule lives inside Chapter 3, it binds temporary amusement operators, not permanent outdoor fixtures on residential or commercial lots citywide; Bowie's Chapter 26 zoning code, a limited local overlay to Prince George's County zoning, does not print a general outdoor-lighting or glare standard in this export.

Violations & Fines

A carnival or fair operator whose site lighting reflects or causes glare onto residential property is in violation of Chapter 3, a municipal infraction under City Code § 1-6: a $100 fine for a first offense and $200 for every subsequent offense, with each day of continued glare counted separately. The City Manager can also condition or revoke the temporary use permit for the noncompliant lighting plan.

Frequently Asked Questions

Does Bowie have a general light-trespass ordinance for homes and businesses?
No. The only printed lighting-glare standard in the City of Bowie Code is inside Chapter 3's temporary-use-permit rules for carnivals and fairs at § 3-11, which requires site lighting not to reflect or cause glare into residential properties. There is no separate citywide outdoor-lighting chapter in this code.
What lighting rule applies to a Bowie carnival or fair?
Section 3-11 requires that lighting used on a permitted carnival, fair or amusement site be arranged so it does not reflect or cause glare into any residential properties, on top of the 250-foot minimum distance from any residential dwelling set in the same section.
Who enforces the carnival lighting rule and what is the penalty?
The City Manager enforces it through the Chapter 3 permit process, and a violation is a municipal infraction under § 1-6 carrying a $100 fine for a first offense and $200 for every later offense, with each day of an ongoing violation billed separately.

Sources & Official References

Other rules in Bowie

Noise Ordinances: Barking DogsSome RestrictionsParking Rules: EV ChargingLight RestrictionsParking Rules: Driveway RulesHeavy RestrictionsParking Rules: Preferential Parking DistrictsSignificant RestrictionsParking Rules: Snow Removal Parking RulesSome RestrictionsParking Rules: Abandoned VehiclesSome Restrictions

All Bowie rules

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