Lewis County, WA Outdoor Lighting: Light Trespass & Shielding (2026)
Key Facts
- Governing section
- LCC § 17.142.020(3)(e)
- Fixture requirement
- Pointed downward, hooded and shielded
- FAA exception
- Obstruction lights exempt, minimized in FAA consultation
- Wind turbine trigger
- Turbines over 200 feet need FAA lighting
- Enforcement
- Civil infraction and misdemeanor under Ch. 1.20 LCC
Summary
In unincorporated Lewis County, every permitted land use must point exterior light fixtures downward and keep them hooded and shielded so they don't glare or trespass onto a neighbor's property. The standard applies countywide under LCC § 17.142.020(3)(e), with a narrow carve-out for FAA-required aviation obstruction lighting on tall structures and wind turbines over 200 feet.
Each violation of the provisions of this title or the provisions of any regulation, order, permit or ruling promulgated pursuant thereto shall constitute a civil infraction. Infractions shall be processed according to the provisions of Chapter 1.20 LCC and subject to the penalties of that chapter. In addition, any violation of the provisions of this title or the provisions of any regulation, order, permit or ruling promulgated pursuant thereto shall be a misdemeanor. Each violation shall constitute a separate offense for each and every day or portion thereof during which the violation is committed, continued, or permitted. ... Exterior light fixtures, except those required by the Federal Aviation Administration (FAA), shall be pointed downward, hooded and shielded to prevent glare and light from trespassing onto neighboring properties. FAA-required lights shall be minimized to the extent practicable in consultation with the FAA and as required by Chapter 70A.550 RCW for wind energy facilities. Wind turbines over 200 feet shall have obstruction lighting per FAA regulations. Aviation obstruction light-mitigation technology systems shall be FAA approved.
Full Breakdown
020 lists the general use standards that the community development administrator or hearing examiner applies to every land use permit reviewed under Title 17, on top of whatever standards apply to the specific zoning district. Subsection (3)(e) singles out exterior lighting: fixtures have to be pointed down at the ground, and hooded and shielded, so that glare and light don't spill onto neighboring parcels in the STMU, RRC, CC, RAI or any other unincorporated zone. 550 RCW. Wind turbines taller than 200 feet must carry FAA obstruction lighting, and any light-mitigation technology used to reduce that lighting's visibility has to be FAA-approved first.
127 LCC. A homeowner installing a yard light or a business lighting a parking lot in unincorporated Lewis County has to show compliance with the downward, hooded and shielded standard as part of the land use review before Community Development signs off, and it becomes a condition the hearing examiner or administrator can enforce.
Violations & Fines
A land use permit that doesn't meet the lighting standard can be conditioned or denied outright by the administrator or hearing examiner under LCC § 17.142.020. Once approved, an unshielded or glare-producing fixture that violates the permit becomes a Title 17 code violation: LCC § 17.07.010 makes it both a civil infraction processed under Chapter 1.20 LCC and a misdemeanor, with each day the fixture stays out of compliance counted as a separate offense.
Frequently Asked Questions
Does Lewis County regulate light trespass onto my neighbor's yard?
Are there exceptions for aviation or wind turbine lighting?
What happens if a light fixture violates the standard?
Sources & Official References
Other rules in Lewis County
Compare Lewis County to another location·View the Washington outdoor lighting overview
See something wrong?
Help us keep this page accurate. If you notice an error or outdated information, let us know.