Columbia, MO Outdoor Lighting: Light Trespass & Shielding (2026)
Key Facts
- General floodlighting
- prohibited
- Beam limit
- no light above horizontal
- Fixture design
- must hide source from neighbors
- Residential footcandle cap
- 0.5 footcandles
Summary
Columbia, Missouri requires every security light to be shielded and aimed so illumination stays on the intended area: no light above horizontal, no glare visible from neighboring roads or yards, and general floodlights are banned outright.
All security lighting fixtures shall be shielded and aimed so that illumination is directed only to the designated area and not cast on other areas. Lighting shall not be directed above a horizontal plane through the top of the lighting fixture, and the fixture shall include shields that prevent the light source or lens from being visible from adjacent roadways and properties. The use of general floodlighting fixtures is prohibited. The maximum footcandles allowed on adjacent property is one-half (0.5) for residential and two (2.0) for non-residential.
Official source re-checked September 7, 2026: no newer edition of the code had been published (publisher’s edition: Code of Ordinances: Supplement 138).
Full Breakdown
Under the Unified Development Code's exterior-lighting standards for Boone County's Columbia, section 29-4.5(n) governs security fixtures specifically. All security lighting must be shielded and aimed so illumination is directed only to the designated area and not cast on other areas; the light cannot be directed above a horizontal plane through the top of the fixture, and shields must keep the source or lens from being visible from adjacent roadways and properties. General floodlighting fixtures are prohibited outright, and the same 0.5/2.0 footcandle adjacent-property caps used elsewhere in the chapter apply to security lighting too.
Violations & Fines
A security light aimed above horizontal, visible as glare from the street, or using a banned general floodlight fixture is a lighting-code violation the city can require corrected on complaint or inspection.
Frequently Asked Questions
Can I install a floodlight for security in Columbia, Missouri?
Does Columbia limit how bright a security light can be at my fence line?
Sources & Official References
Other rules in Columbia
Compare Columbia to another location·View the Missouri outdoor lighting overview
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