Key Facts Ordinance Text Full Breakdown Violations FAQ Sources More in Tippecanoe County

Tippecanoe County, IN Outdoor Lighting: Light Trespass & Shielding (2026)

Some Restrictions

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

Key Facts

Glare limit at residential/RE boundary: 0.5 footcandles
Applies in zones: I1, I2, I3
Heat limit at zone boundary: No more than 5°F rise
Added by: Amendment 27
Fine per violation: $50-$1,500, each day separate

Summary

In Tippecanoe County's I1, I2 and I3 industrial zones, Unified Zoning Ordinance Section 4-10-4 caps light trespass at 0.5 footcandles measured at any residential or RE zone boundary. The same section limits heat: no furnace or processing equipment may raise ambient air or material temperature more than 5 degrees Fahrenheit at the zone line.

These county ordinances apply to unincorporated areas of Tippecanoe County. Incorporated cities within the county may have their own rules that take precedence over county-level regulations.

4-10-4 GLARE AND HEAT: (a) Glare is illumination caused by incandescent, fluorescent or arc lighting, or from high temperature processes such as welding or metallurgical refining. (b) In I1, I2 and I3 zones, any operation or activity producing glare shall be conducted so that direct or indirect light from the source shall not cause illumination in excess of 0.5 footcandles when measured in any residential or RE zone (Amend 27). (c) No heat from furnace or processing equipment can be sensed at the zone boundary line that raises the temperature of ambient air or materials more than 5°F.

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Full Breakdown

Section 4-10-4, GLARE AND HEAT, is one of the Unified Zoning Ordinance's industrial performance standards in Chapter 4-10, and it is the county's operative light-trespass rule. 5 footcandles when measured in any residential or RE zone, a threshold added by Amendment 27. 5 footcandles. The same section addresses heat as a companion nuisance: no heat from furnace or processing equipment can be sensed at the zone boundary line in a way that raises the temperature of ambient air or materials more than 5 degrees Fahrenheit. 5 footcandle ceiling.

Violations & Fines

Exceeding the 0.5 footcandle limit or the 5-degree heat threshold at a residential or RE zone boundary is a zoning violation under Section 6-3-1, subject to a fine of $50 to $1,500 per violation determination, with each day the excess glare or heat continues counted as a separate violation. The Administrative Officer can issue a Notice of Zoning Violation giving the operator at least fifteen days to correct the lighting or shielding before penalties accrue further, and unresolved fines can become a lien on the property after ninety days.

Frequently Asked Questions

How bright can industrial lighting be near a Tippecanoe County home?

Section 4-10-4 caps it at 0.5 footcandles measured at the residential or RE zone boundary nearest an I1, I2 or I3 use. The limit applies to spillover at the property line, not to fixture brightness on the industrial site itself, so shielding and aiming fixtures inward keeps a business compliant.

Does the glare rule apply to commercial or residential lighting too?

No. Section 4-10-4's 0.5 footcandle cap is written specifically for operations or activities in I1, I2 and I3 industrial zones; it does not set a numeric limit for commercial or residential fixtures elsewhere in the Unified Zoning Ordinance.

What happens if an industrial site's lighting exceeds the footcandle limit?

It is a zoning violation under Section 6-3-1, carrying a $50 to $1,500 fine per determination and a separate violation for every day the excess light continues. The Administrative Officer can also require shielding, redirection, or removal of the offending fixtures.

Sources & Official References

[1]Tippecanoe County Unified Zoning Ordinance, Section 4-10-4

Other rules in Tippecanoe County

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All Tippecanoe County rules

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