Hillsboro, OR Outdoor Lighting: Light Trespass & Shielding (2026)
Key Facts
- Light trespass cap
- 1.75 foot-candles at 10 ft past property line
- Measurement point
- 10 feet beyond the property line
- Paired shielding rule
- Full cut-off fixture required above 900 lumens
- Applies to
- Type II/III development applications only
- Sports/recreation exception
- 2 foot-candles at line, off by 11:00 p.m.
- Last amended
- Ordinance 6401, 2022
Summary
Hillsboro caps how much a development's exterior lighting can spill onto neighboring land: lighting reviewed under the Community Development Code cannot raise the light level more than 1.75 foot-candles measured 10 feet past the property line. The limit applies during Type II and Type III land use review, not as a standalone nuisance citation.
B.Applicability. Except as provided in subsection E below, the standards of this section shall apply to all Type II and Type III development applications in which exterior lighting is proposed or required as a condition of approval, unless a Variance or Adjustment has been granted by the Review Authority pursuant to Section 12.80.140 Variances and Adjustments. [...] D.Light Trespass Standards.1.Light Trespass. Maximum lighting levels at property lines generally shall not increase lighting level more than 1.75 foot-candles 10 feet beyond the property line, as illustrated in Figure 12.50.240-A: [...] E.Exemptions. [...] 7.Lighting for outdoor recreational uses such as stadiums, driving ranges, ball diamonds, playing fields, tennis courts and similar uses, provided that: (a) light poles are not more than 80 feet tall, (b) maximum illumination at the property line is not brighter than 2 foot-candles, and exterior lighting is extinguished no later than 11:00 p.m.
Official source re-checked September 7, 2026: no newer edition of the code had been published (publisher’s edition: Municipal Code: Supplement 1 | Community Development Code: Supplement 1).
Full Breakdown
240-A. 2, which forces any fixture over 900 lumens (about a 60-watt incandescent bulb) into an IESNA full cut-off housing with the beam angle held to 90 degrees or less, so glare and spill light are controlled at the fixture before they ever reach the property line. 140 rather than simply exceeding the cap. m. 240 was last amended by Ordinance 6401 in 2022, following Ordinance 6322 (2019) and the original Ordinance 6120 (2015).
Violations & Fines
Light trespass is enforced through the land use approval process rather than a nuisance ticket for glare alone: a lighting plan projected to exceed 1.75 foot-candles at 10 feet past the property line does not clear land use review. Once built, exceeding the approved lighting plan violates the project's conditions of approval, and HCDC § 12.70.120.H makes that "a violation of this Code" subject to "code enforcement proceedings," up to revocation of the approval. The only path around the cap is a Variance or Adjustment under § 12.80.140, sought before installation.
Frequently Asked Questions
How much light can a Hillsboro development legally send onto my property?
Does the 1.75 foot-candle limit apply to my neighbor's house lights?
What happens if a business's lighting plan exceeds the trespass cap after approval?
Can a property owner get relief from the light trespass standard?
Sources & Official References
Other rules in Hillsboro
Compare Hillsboro to another location·View the Oregon outdoor lighting overview
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Light Trespass & Shielding in Nearby Cities
How other cities in Washington County handle light trespass & shielding.