Lakewood, CO Outdoor Lighting: Light Trespass & Shielding (2026)
Key Facts
- Rule
- No direct light rays past property line
- Citation
- Zoning Ordinance § 17.6.7.1(C)-(D)
- Applies to
- All residential development citywide
- Enforced by
- City Director; Municipal Code prosecution
- Penalty
- Each day is a separate violation
Summary
Lakewood's Zoning Ordinance bars any light source from casting direct rays past the property line and requires fixtures aimed away from adjacent yards and rights-of-way, protecting neighbors in this Jefferson County, Colorado city.
C. Lighting sources shall be positioned in such a manner as to direct light away from adjacent property.
D. No direct rays of light shall extend beyond the boundaries of the property from where the light originates.
E. Excluding single-family dwelling and duplex sites and associated accessory structures, light fixtures on structures, walls canopies, poles, stands, or mounted on a building shall have a shield, adjustable reflector, and non-protruding diffuser.
Full Breakdown
Article 6 of Lakewood's Zoning Ordinance sets the citywide standard for residential lighting: light sources must be directed away from reflective surfaces and adjacent property to limit glare, positioned so they don't shine onto a neighbor's land, and no direct ray may cross the property boundary from where it originates. The standard applies to every residential development inside Lakewood city limits in Jefferson County, not unincorporated county land. Violations are prosecuted under the Municipal Code, and each day a trespassing light continues after written notice to abate constitutes a separate violation under the Ordinance's own penalty section.
Violations & Fines
Prosecuted under the Municipal Code per Zoning Ordinance § 17.1.11; each day a light trespass continues after written notice to abate is a separate violation.
Frequently Asked Questions
Does Lakewood regulate light spilling onto my neighbor's yard?
Where does this rule apply?
Sources & Official References
Other rules in Lakewood
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Light Trespass & Shielding in Nearby Cities
How other cities in Jefferson County handle light trespass & shielding.