Fairfax, VA Outdoor Lighting: Light Trespass (2026)

Light pollution regulation in Fairfax County follows the outdoor lighting standards in the Zoning Ordinance, designed to minimize skyglow, light trespass, and glare. All new outdoor lighting must use fully shielded or full-cutoff fixtures — those that emit zero light above the horizontal plane of the fixture. Maximum light levels at property lines are capped (typically 0.1 foot-candles at residential boundaries, higher for commercial-to-commercial boundaries). Parking lot lighting for commercial developments must use poles of limited height (commonly 20-25 feet maximum in areas adjacent to residential), use full-cutoff fixtures, and may be required to reduce to security levels or turn off after business hours under curfew provisions. Sports field lighting has specific carve-outs with time limits. Illuminated signs are regulated separately and face their own brightness and curfew rules. Decorative lighting (holiday, string lights, architectural up-lighting) is generally exempt in residential zones during seasonal periods. Astronomical lighting concerns — protecting dark skies for wildlife and stargazing — are growing in importance, and Fairfax County has generally trended toward stricter lighting standards over time. The Chesapeake Bay Preservation Area RPA buffers are not specifically subject to dark-sky requirements, but minimizing artificial lighting near streams and wetlands benefits nocturnal wildlife. Enforcement is through Zoning Administration complaints, with violations subject to notice of violation, stop-work orders for non-compliant installations, and civil penalties. Retrofit of non-conforming fixtures is generally required when substantial changes trigger code compliance review.