Fulshear, TX Outdoor Lighting: Light Trespass & Shielding (2026)
Key Facts
- Standard
- Full cut-off required
- Output limit
- 100% below 90° from vertical
- Residential walls
- House-side shielding required
- In effect since
- September 15, 2020
- Existing lights
- 5-year amortization to comply
Summary
Fulshear's development code requires security lighting to be full cut-off, keeping 100% of light output below 90 degrees from vertical so the bulb stays hidden from neighboring property lines.
All lighting shall be shielded so the source of illumination (bulb or direct lamp image) is not visible from the property line. This reduces glare and interference with boundary streets and adjacent properties. No lamp shall extend past the housing of a light fixture.
(b) Light fixture type.
Light fixtures shall be:
(1) "Full cut-off" fixtures that limit lighting that is visible or measurable at the property line;
(2) Of constant intensity;
(3) Reflected or shielded so as not to:
a. Be of excessive brightness;
b. Cause glare hazardous to pedestrians or drivers;
c. Create any public or private nuisance; or
d. Unreasonably interfere with an adjacent property owner's right to enjoy their property.
(4) "No cut-off" fixtures, used only for decorative purposes, provided:
a. They have light fixtures that produce no more than 1,500 lumens (approximately equal to a 100-watt incandescent bulb);
b. They use energy-efficient bulbs, such as compact fluorescent (CF) and light-emitting diode (LED).
Figure 28-3-41 Types of Light Fixtures
(c) Cut-off requirements.
(See figure 28-3-41, type of light fixtures.)
(1) Full cut-off.
Except as otherwise allowed, all lighting (including, but not limited to vehicle use areas, canopies, security, walkway, landscaping, signs, outdoor display areas, and building) shall have 100 percent of its output below 90 degrees from a vertical line through the fixture.
(2) Adjacent to residential use or district.
Official source re-checked September 7, 2026: no newer edition of the code had been published (publisher’s edition: rev 4849270; v4 updated 2026-05-19).
Full Breakdown
Under the Coordinated Development Ordinance's lighting design standards, security fixtures are named explicitly among the lighting types that must meet the "full cut-off" test: every bit of light output has to stay below 90 degrees from a vertical line through the fixture. The broader shielding rule backs this up, the bulb or lamp image can't be visible from the property line at all, and no lamp may extend past its housing. Fixtures mounted on a wall facing a residential property line also need house-side shielding on that side. The requirement took effect with the CDO's 2020 lighting rewrite and applies citywide, five years of amortization for pre-existing fixtures.
Violations & Fines
Installing or maintaining a security light that isn't full cut-off, that projects visible bulb glare across a property line, or a wall-mounted unit facing a residential lot without house-side shielding.
Frequently Asked Questions
Do motion-activated security lights need shielding too?
Can a security light face my neighbor's yard?
Sources & Official References
Other rules in Fulshear
Texas rules heatmap·Compare Fulshear to another location·View the Texas outdoor lighting overview
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Light Trespass & Shielding in Nearby Cities
How other cities in Fort Bend County handle light trespass & shielding.