Multnomah County regulates light trespass through the Zoning Code exterior lighting standards in MCC 39.6400, requiring fixtures to be fully shielded and limiting illumination at residential property lines. Portland enforces PCC 33.262.070 (Outdoor Lighting) and PCC 33.510 Central City light standards. Oregon Department of Transportation standards govern state highway lighting. Complaints are investigated by county Land Use & Transportation Code Compliance or Portland's Bureau of Development Services.
Multnomah County Code Chapter 39.6400 (Exterior Lighting) requires all new non-residential and multi-family exterior fixtures to be fully shielded (dark-sky compliant) with the light source not visible from adjacent properties. Illumination at a residential zoning district property line may not exceed 0.5 foot-candles, and 1.0 foot-candle at commercial zoning boundaries. Portland City Code 33.262.070 sets a 0.5 fc maximum spillover at residential lot lines and requires IESNA Type III or lower cutoff for site lighting. The Central City Fundamental Design Guidelines and Chapter 33.510 impose additional glare controls downtown. Residential security floodlights must be aimed downward and away from adjacent bedrooms; sensor-activated lights triggered by neighbor activity are considered a nuisance under MCC 39.6400.040. Holiday string lights are exempted October 15 to January 15. Light trespass complaints in unincorporated East County (Corbett, Sauvie Island, Skyline) go to the Multnomah County Land Use Planning Division at 503-988-3043. Portland complaints route to BDS Code Compliance (503-823-CODE). Oregon has no statewide outdoor lighting preemption, so cities and counties set their own thresholds.
Unincorporated county: written warning with 30-day correction period, then $100-$500 per day civil penalty under MCC 39.500. Portland violations: $150 first offense, up to $1,000 for commercial, stop-work on unpermitted commercial lighting. Class A code violation for ignored correction orders.
Gresham, OR
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Gresham, OR
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Gresham, OR
Gresham Revised Code §7.20 regulates noise. Residential areas must not exceed 50 dBA between 10 PM and 7 AM, or 60 dBA between 7 AM and 10 PM at the property...
Gresham, OR
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Gresham, OR
Gresham requires driveways to meet development code standards. Vehicles must not block sidewalks or extend into the public right-of-way. Driveway modificatio...
Gresham, OR
Gresham restricts commercial vehicle parking in residential zones. Large commercial vehicles and heavy equipment may not be stored in residential areas.
Side-by-side rule comparisons with other cities in Multnomah County.
See how Gresham's light trespass rules stack up against other locations.
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