Grant County, WA Outdoor Lighting: Light Trespass & Shielding (2026)
Key Facts
- Boundary rule
- Glare and reflections must stay within the parcel
- Direction
- Fixtures must aim downward, away from neighbors
- Prohibited
- Blinking, flashing, high-intensity lighting outright banned
- Parking lots
- Lights need direct cutoff, bulb hidden from view
- Fine
- $500 per occurrence under GCC § 1.32.140
Summary
Exterior lighting on any use or sign in unincorporated Grant County has to be shielded or recessed so glare and reflections stay within the parcel, aimed downward and away from neighboring properties and rights-of-way, under the Unified Development Code's lighting standards.
(1)Exterior lighting for all uses and signs shall be energy-efficient and shielded or recessed so that direct glare and reflections are contained within the boundaries of the parcel. Exterior lighting shall be directed downward and away from adjoining properties and public rights-of-way. No lighting shall blink, flash, or be of unusually high intensity or brightness. All lighting fixtures shall be appropriate in scale, intensity, and height to the use they are serving. Any lighting installed in parking areas shall be of direct cutoff design so that the source is not visible form adjacent property.
Full Breakdown
" Parking-area lighting gets its own specific requirement: any light installed to serve a parking area must be of "direct cutoff design so that the source is not visible from adjacent property," language aimed squarely at keeping a floodlight's bulb, not just its glow, out of a neighbor's sightline. 130(a)(3). 190(b).
Violations & Fines
Exterior lighting that spills glare onto a neighboring parcel or points upward toward the sky instead of downward is a code violation Development Services can require correcting during site plan review or after a complaint. Continued noncompliance is enforceable under GCC § 1.32, with a $500 fine per occurrence under § 1.32.140 and each day of the violation counted separately.
Frequently Asked Questions
Can my neighbor's outdoor light shine directly onto my property in unincorporated Grant County?
Are flashing or blinking outdoor lights allowed?
What lighting standard applies to parking lot lights?
Sources & Official References
Other rules in Grant County
Compare Grant County to another location·View the Washington outdoor lighting overview
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