Light trespass onto neighboring properties is prohibited under Lake County UDO §12.7 and municipal nuisance codes in Highland Park, Lake Forest, and Libertyville. Most cap spillover at 0.1 to 0.5 footcandles at residential property lines.
Lake County's Unified Development Ordinance §12.7 and municipal codes treat light trespass as a civil nuisance. Maximum spillover illumination at a residential property line is typically 0.1 footcandles (unincorporated areas and Lake Forest) to 0.5 footcandles (commercial-adjacent residential). Security floodlights must be aimed, shielded, or motion-activated to avoid illuminating a neighbor's bedroom windows. Highland Park Ch. 150-50 specifically prohibits lighting that causes glare visible from a public street or adjacent dwelling. Enforcement is complaint-driven — residents can file a code complaint with their municipal code enforcement office or the Lake County Planning, Building & Development Department. Photometric measurements may be required at the property line. Holiday/decorative lights have seasonal exemptions. Illinois also recognizes common-law nuisance claims (Smith v. Goldman) — persistent light trespass can support a private lawsuit for injunctive relief and damages.
Failure to correct light trespass: $100 to $500 per citation in most municipalities. Commercial glare hazards: up to $1,000 per day. Persistent violations: code enforcement lien and civil nuisance suit by neighbor.
Lake County, IL
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