Des Moines prohibits outdoor lighting that causes glare or spills onto adjacent residential properties and public rights-of-way. Chapter 134 Article IV and Chapter 135 site-design standards require shielded, downward-directed fixtures. No standalone foot-candle or curfew ordinance has been adopted.
Chapter 134 (Zoning Ordinance No. 15,816), Article IV — General Requirements, requires all exterior lighting to be directed away from adjoining residential properties and public rights-of-way to prevent glare and light trespass. Commercial and parking-lot fixtures must be fully shielded so that light is confined to the subject property. Chapter 135 (Planning and Design) Article 8 — Site Design Requirements — reinforces these standards for new development and redevelopment projects, requiring photometric plans for larger commercial sites. Chapter 42 (Environment), Article V (Nuisances) provides a nuisance remedy for unreasonable light intrusion from neighboring properties. No quantitative foot-candle limit, CCT (color temperature) cap, lumen-per-acre cap, or light-curfew hour has been adopted. Complaints are handled by the Zoning Enforcement Division (515-283-4207).
Light trespass violations are zoning code infractions; Zoning Enforcement Division issues notices of violation; nuisance complaints may also be filed under Chapter 42 Art. V.
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