El Paso County, CO Outdoor Lighting: Light Trespass & Shielding (2026)
Key Facts
- Governing section
- LDC Sec. 6.2.3(B)(1)(e)
- Trespass limit
- 0.1 foot candles at line
- Shielding zone
- within 15 feet of residential line
- Applies to
- site development plans, not single-family
Summary
El Paso County caps site lighting at 0.1 foot candles at the property line next to residential land or a right-of-way, and requires house-side shielding near homes.
Light levels measured at the property line of the development site adjacent to residential property or public right of way shall not exceed 0.1 foot candles as a direct result of the on-site lighting. All light fixtures mounted within 15' of any residential property line of the site shall be classified as IES Type II or Type III, or fixture demonstrated to provide similar distribution patterns and shielding properties. Fixtures shall be fitted with "house side shield" reflectors on the sides facing the residential property line.
(f) Light Standards and Fixtures. The style of light standards and fixtures shall be consistent with the style and character of architecture proposed on the site. Poles shall be anodized or coated to minimize glare from the light source. Bollards or similar light fixtures intended to illuminate landscape features or walkways are permitted which do not exceed 4 feet in height, 2 fixtures per bollard and 1 lamp not exceeding 900 lumens per fixture.
(g) Lamp Types. All outdoor light fixtures should utilize 1 of the following lamp types: metal halide, induction lamp, compact fluorescent, incandescent (including tungsten-halogen), or high-pressure sodium. Alternatives are permitted provided they are demonstrated to be more effective for the proposed use based on IESNA recommendations.
(h) Canopy Lighting. Light fixtures associated with canopies, including but not limited to fuel islands,
Official source re-checked September 7, 2026: no newer edition of the code had been published (publisher’s edition: Land Development Code: Supplement 3 | Drainage Criteria Manual: Publication | Engineering Criteria Manual: Supplement 3 | Ordinances: Reformat).
Full Breakdown
Land Development Code Sec. 1 foot candles as a direct result of on-site lighting. Any fixture mounted within 15 feet of a residential property line must be an IES Type II or Type III fixture, or demonstrate similar distribution and shielding, and must carry a 'house side shield' reflector aimed away from the neighboring residential line. Sec. 15 separately defines Light Trespass as light projected onto a property from a fixture not located on that property, giving the standard its legal hook. This design standard is applied through the site development plan and lighting plan review process for non-exempt uses in the unincorporated county; Sec. 1 foot-candle limit is enforced against commercial, multifamily, and institutional development, not a neighbor's individual house light.
Violations & Fines
PCD can reject or condition a lighting plan that exceeds 0.1 foot candles at a residential property line or lacks house-side shielding within 15 feet of that line.
Frequently Asked Questions
What is the light-trespass limit at a residential property line?
Does this apply to a neighbor's house light?
Sources & Official References
Other rules in El Paso County
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