Kyle, TX Outdoor Lighting: Light Trespass & Shielding (2026)
Key Facts
- Trespass limit
- Zero photometric reading 3 feet past property line
- Shielding rule
- No luminous element visible from another property
- Parking lot cap
- No light emitted above 90-degree angle
- Government streetlights
- Must be full cut-off fixtures
- Enforcement
- Public nuisance plus injunctive relief, §§ 53-1016/-1017
Summary
In the City of Kyle, Article V's shielding standard requires outdoor fixtures on qualifying nonresidential and multifamily sites to be shielded so no luminous element is visible from another property, and § 53-1011(d)(3) sets the trespass limit at zero: the photometric reading must be zero at every point three feet past the property line.
Light trespassmeans light emitted from fixtures designed or installed in a manner that unreasonably causes light to fall on a property other than the one where the light is installed, in a motor vehicle driver's eyes, or upwards toward the sky. ... Shielding.All outdoor lighting, except governmental owned streetlights, shall be shielded so that luminous elements of the fixture are not visible from any other property. ... There shall be no light trespass across property lines. The photometric measurement shall be zero at all locations three feet past the property perimeter.
Full Breakdown
Section 53-1011 lays out Kyle's shielding and total light-trespass standards. Subsection (a) caps all parking lot lighting so no light is emitted above a 90-degree angle, meaning it cannot shine above the horizon. Subsection (b) requires that all outdoor lighting, except government-owned streetlights, be shielded so the fixture's luminous elements are not visible from any other property, noting that mounting height or proximity to a property line can require extra shielding. Subsection (c) requires government streetlights to be full cut-off fixtures to limit light trespass.
Subsection (d) then bans outdoor uplighting outright except where a roof overhang or similar structural shield is combined with a licensed architect's or engineer's stamped lighting plan, bars any light escape above the horizontal plane running through the fixture's lowest luminous point, and in (d)(3) sets the core numeric trespass rule: there shall be no light trespass across property lines, with the photometric measurement required to read zero at all locations three feet past the property perimeter. Section 53-1004 defines 'light trespass' as light from a fixture that unreasonably falls on another property, into a driver's eyes, or upward toward the sky.
Every qualifying lighting plan submitted under § 53-1007(a)(6) must include a notarized owner statement acknowledging that the photometric measurement will be zero three feet past the property line.
Violations & Fines
Emitting light across a property line beyond the zero-trespass threshold in § 53-1011(d)(3) is an offense under § 53-1010(a) and a public nuisance under § 53-1017(a)-(b) when it unreasonably interferes with a neighbor's use and enjoyment of their property. The city may pursue injunctive relief and criminal prosecution under § 53-1016, with fines running up to $2,000.00 under the Chapter 53 general penalty in § 1-14.
Frequently Asked Questions
How close to my property line can outdoor lighting shine in Kyle?
What happens if my outdoor lighting shines onto my neighbor's yard in Kyle?
Are parking lot lights covered by Kyle's light-trespass rule?
Sources & Official References
Other rules in Kyle
Texas rules heatmap·Compare Kyle to another location·View the Texas outdoor lighting overview
See something wrong?
Help us keep this page accurate. If you notice an error or outdated information, let us know.