Georgetown, TX Outdoor Lighting: Light Trespass (2026)

Light trespass — unwanted light spilling onto neighboring property — is addressed indirectly through Georgetown's Unified Development Code lighting standards. Under UDC Section 7.04.010 (Chapter 7, Non-Residential Development Standards), outdoor light sources must be 'completely concealed, fully shielded within opaque housing,' and 'shall not be visible from any street right-of-way.' Full-cutoff, fully shielded fixtures direct light downward and reduce horizontal spillover onto adjacent properties, which is the primary mechanism the code uses to control glare and trespass. The code also references illumination-level limits in its subsections, and the only allowance for unshielded fixtures applies to low-wattage residential-style lights on non-residential uses (a single fixture not exceeding 75 watts, multiple fixtures not exceeding 125 watts total). Georgetown does not publish a distinct numeric light-trespass standard (such as a maximum foot-candle reading at a residential property line) for ordinary single-family homes, because the shielding requirements are written into the non-residential chapter. A homeowner experiencing severe light trespass from a neighbor's fixtures would typically pursue it through the city's nuisance and code-compliance process rather than a dedicated lighting-trespass ordinance. Commercial and multifamily developers must demonstrate shielding compliance via the required lighting plan.