Denver, CO Outdoor Lighting: Light Trespass & Shielding (2026)

Under the Denver Zoning Code, building-mounted outdoor lighting fixtures must be mounted so the cone of light is contained on-site and does not cross any property line (§ 10.7.4.2.A.2). Separately, § 10.7.4.3 bars all outdoor lighting fixtures from producing glare onto adjacent Residential Zone Districts or onto rights-of-way in a way that distracts drivers, cyclists, or pedestrians. For parking areas, where a zone lot abuts a Protected District, illumination at the abutting zone lot line is capped at 0.1 footcandles (§ 10.7.4.7.B.2), and full cutoff or fully shielded fixtures are required so light sources aren't visible from adjacent properties (§ 10.7.4.2.A.1). These rules apply citywide to new development and to substantial renovations/expansions of existing buildings, not just to a subset of districts.