Ada County, ID Outdoor Lighting: Light Trespass & Shielding (2026)
Key Facts
- No trespass onto
- Abutting residential property
- Applies to floodlights
- 900+ lumens
- Pole height vs. setback
- Table 8-3-8-1
- Floodlight tilt max
- 45 degrees from vertical
- Code section
- Ada County 8-3-8(F)(7)
Summary
Ada County limits light spilling onto neighbors. In commercial or industrial settings, the effective zone of light from bright fixtures may not trespass onto abutting residential property. In rural, transitional, and residential districts, higher poles require greater setbacks from the property line.
Within a commercial or industrial base district, or a commercial or industrial type use within a rural or transitional base district, the effective zone of light (as documented by the photometric test report) shall not trespass on abutting residential properties. See Figure 8-3-8-2 of this Title. Figure 8-3-8-2 Light Trespass [https://export.amlegal.com/media/b8b6e9a71fb071ff7bb920d2ca3b42039d4acb89/ IMAGES/0-0-0-3182.png]
(2) Within a rural, transitio nal, or resident ial base district, the allowed height shall be determined by the setback from the property line established in Table 8-3-8-1 Height of Light Fixtures below. Table 8-3-8-1 Height of Light Fixtures Height of Pole Setback from Property Height of Pole Setback from Property Line Line Table 8-3-8-1 Height of Light Fixtures Height of Pole Setback from Property Height of Pole Setback from Property
Line Line 1 foot to 3 feet 0 feet 15 feet 36 feet 4 feet 3 feet 16 feet 39 feet 5 feet 6 feet 17 feet 42 feet 6 feet 9 feet 18 feet 45 feet 7 feet 12 feet 19 feet 48 feet 8 feet 15 feet 20 feet 51 feet 9 feet 18 feet 21 feet 54 feet 10 feet 21 feet 22 feet 57 feet
Full Breakdown
Ada County Code Section 8-3-8(F)(7) addresses light trespass for floodlights of 900 lumens or more and other fixtures of 1,800 lumens or more. Within a commercial or industrial base district (or a commercial/industrial use in a rural or transitional district), the effective zone of light, as documented by a photometric report, shall not trespass on abutting residential properties. Within rural, transitional, or residential districts, the allowed pole height is set by Table 8-3-8-1, which increases the required property-line setback with height (formula: height = 3 + setback/3). Floodlights must be sensor-activated, shut off within five minutes, and tilt no more than 45 degrees from vertical. These standards govern unincorporated land only.
Violations & Fines
Lighting that trespasses onto an abutting residential property or violates the height-setback table is a zoning violation; Development Services can require re-aiming, shielding, or removal.
Frequently Asked Questions
Can my neighbor's floodlight shine onto my property?
Do tall light poles need extra setback?
Sources & Official References
Other rules in Ada County
Compare Ada County to another location·View the Idaho outdoor lighting overview
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