Washington County, OR Outdoor Lighting: Light Trespass & Shielding (2026)
Key Facts
- Measurement point
- Property line or buffer line, § 415-3.8
- Flickering/flashing
- Prohibited outright, § 415-5.1
- Screening areas
- No fixtures except on walkways
- Habitat protection
- No excess light into SNR Areas
- Plan required
- Exterior Lighting Plan under § 415-2
Summary
Washington County measures light trespass at the property line, not at the fixture. Section 415-3.8 defines maximum permitted illumination as the foot-candle level at the property line or required buffer, and Section 415-5.3 separately bars lighting from shining excessive light into nearby habitat areas.
415-3.8Maximum permitted illumination: The maximum illumination measured in foot-candles at the property line or, if required, interior screening and buffering line at ground level, in accordance with the standards of Section 415-4 below. ... 415-5General Provisions Notwithstanding any other provision of this Section to the contrary: 415-5.1No flickering or flashing lights shall be permitted.415-5.2Light sources or luminaires shall not be located within areas identified for screening or buffering except on pedestrian walkways.415-5.3Lighting shall be located and oriented so as not to shine excessive light into nearby habitat areas, including Significant Natural Resource Areas as identified in a Community Plan or the Rural Natural Resources Plan.
Official source re-checked September 7, 2026: no newer edition of the code had been published (publisher’s edition: Community Development Code: Supplement 2 | Code of Ordinances: Supplement 25).
Full Breakdown
The Community Development Code addresses light trespass, meaning light spilling onto a neighbor's land, through two connected provisions in Section 415. 8 defines 'Maximum permitted illumination' as the foot-candle level measured at the property line, or at an interior screening and buffering line where one is required, tying the illumination caps in Section 415-4's three cutoff tiers directly to what a neighbor actually experiences at the boundary rather than at the light source itself. 0 foot-candles for a fully cutoff commercial luminaire. 3). Together these sections mean a developer cannot satisfy Section 415-4's height and intensity table on paper while still aiming a fixture so its beam crosses onto an adjoining lot or a protected habitat area; the Exterior Lighting Plan required under Section 415-2 must show cutoffs and coverage sufficient to keep light within the boundary.
Violations & Fines
A fixture that exceeds its tier's property-line illumination cap, or that shines into a screening/buffering area or a mapped habitat area, violates Sections 415-3.8 and 415-5 and, in turn, Section 215-1's bar on developing land contrary to the Code. The county's Code Compliance program can require re-aiming or re-shielding, deny related permits under Section 215-2, and prosecute continuing violations under Chapter 1.14 of the Washington County Code.
Frequently Asked Questions
Where does Washington County measure whether a light is too bright for a neighbor?
Can outdoor lighting shine toward a wetland or stream buffer?
Are there separate limits for light near screening and buffering areas?
Sources & Official References
Other rules in Washington County
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