St. Clair County, IL Outdoor Lighting: Light Trespass & Shielding (2026)
Key Facts
- AO-1 standard
- No excessive glare or light trespass, (A)(2)
- Parking lots (AO-1)
- Asphalt or non-reflective surface required
- Canopy lighting
- Bulb concealed, fixture above canopy skirt
- Countywide parking rule
- Sec. 40-6-5 confines light to the lot
- Penalty
- $50-$500 fine, each day a separate offense
Summary
Outdoor lighting on non-residential and multi-family property inside the Airport Overlay AO-1 District, around Scott Air Force Base and MidAmerica St. Louis Airport, must be placed so it does not cause excessive glare or light trespass under Zoning Code Sec. 40-4-120(A)(2). Parking lots there need non-reflective paving, canopy lights must stay hidden, and sign lighting must aim downward.
40-4-120 LIGHTING. ... (A) Non-Residential Uses and Multi-Family Residential. ... (2) Outdoor lighting fixtures shall be placed so as to not cause excessive glare or light trespass. (3) On-site parking areas shall be constructed of asphalt, dyed concrete or other non-reflective paving surfaces. ... (5) Canopy lighting shall be designed to conceal the illumination source and the lighting fixture shall not extend below the canopy skirt. (6) Exterior sign lights shall be shielded and oriented downward with respect to the sign. (D) Temporary Lights. Special use permits shall be required for temporary lights such as spot lights. A permit may be granted if, upon review, the Director finds that the proposed lighting will not create excessive glare, sky glow, or light trespass.
Full Breakdown
Section 40-4-120(A)(2) requires every outdoor lighting fixture on non-residential and multi-family property inside the AO-1 District, the ring around Scott Air Force Base and MidAmerica St. Louis Airport, to be placed so it does not cause "excessive glare or light trespass" onto neighboring land or into the airfield. The same subsection reinforces the standard with construction detail: on-site parking lots must use asphalt, dyed concrete or another non-reflective surface under (A)(3), canopy lighting over gas pumps or drive-throughs must conceal its bulb and stay above the canopy skirt under (A)(5), and exterior sign lighting must be shielded and aimed downward under (A)(6).
Outside the AO-1 District, unincorporated St. Clair County still controls trespass from parking-lot lighting county-wide: Sec. 40-6-5 requires that "any light(s) used to illuminate any parking area shall be arranged or shielded so as to confine direct light rays within the parking lot boundary lines to the greatest extent practicable," so a business lot anywhere in the county, not just AO-1, cannot throw light onto a neighbor's property. Temporary spotlights need a special use permit under (D), granted only if the Zoning Director finds the lighting will not create excessive glare, sky glow, or light trespass.
The Zoning Administrator enforces both standards, and Sec. 40-4-113(C) authorizes a stop-work order when field inspection shows a lighting installation departs from the approved plan.
Violations & Fines
A light-trespass violation under Sec. 40-4-120 or the parking-lot standard in Sec. 40-6-5 is enforced as a Zoning Code violation: Sec. 40-11-10 makes it a Class B misdemeanor with a fine of $50 to $500 plus costs, and every day the glare or trespass continues is a separate offense. The Zoning Administrator can also order corrective action, including a stop-work order, under Sec. 40-4-113(C) until the fixture is re-aimed or re-shielded.
Frequently Asked Questions
Does the light-trespass rule reach parking lot lights outside AO-1?
What counts as light trespass under the AO-1 standard?
Can a business use a temporary spotlight at night?
Sources & Official References
Other rules in St. Clair County
Compare St. Clair County to another location·View the Illinois outdoor lighting overview
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