Littleton, CO Outdoor Lighting: Light Trespass & Shielding (2026)
Key Facts
- Single-family limit
- 0.2 foot-candle at the lot line
- Other uses limit
- 0.1 foot-candle, 10 ft beyond property line
- Non-residential curfew
- Off by 11 p.m. or 1 hr after closing
- Line-of-sight cap
- 500 ft property line to property line
- Waiver available
- Director may waive if no residential impact
Summary
Littleton caps how much light can spill onto a neighbor's land: 0.2 foot-candle at the lot line between single-family residential properties, and 0.1 foot-candle measured 10 feet beyond the property line for attached, multi-family, non-residential, and industrial uses.
6. Light Trespass. Lighting shall be from a concealed light source and with effective provisions made to prevent light trespass onto adjoining properties or roadways. a. Single-Family Detached Residential Uses. Any lamp installed on single-family residential property and visible from any other single-family residential property shall be shielded such that light trespass on the other residential property does not exceed 0.2 foot-candle at the lot line. b. Single-Family Attached and Multi-Family, Non-Residential, Institutional, Mixed-Use, and Industrial Uses. No more than 0.1 foot-candle of light may be allowed, measured at a point 10 feet beyond any property line, as a direct result of on-site lighting regardless of the type(s) of outdoor lighting fixture. The Director may waive this requirement if the light trespass will not reach any residential district or use.
Full Breakdown
The Outdoor Lighting Standards section of the Unified Land Use Code exists specifically to regulate light trespass and glare so that lighting does not adversely affect motorists, pedestrians, or neighboring land. Under the Light Trespass standard, all lighting must come from a concealed light source with effective provisions to prevent trespass onto adjoining properties or roadways. 2 foot-candle measured at the lot line. 1 foot-candle measured at a point 10 feet beyond any property line, regardless of the type of outdoor fixture, though the Director may waive that limit if the light will not reach a residential district or use.
or one hour after closing, aside from security or emergency lighting for entries, exits, walkways or storage areas. Compliance is reviewed through a required lighting plan submitted with Site Plan, Master Development Plan, Conditional Use Permit, Certificate of Appropriateness, or Building Permit applications, and the Director can require photometric plots showing illumination levels at property lines.
Violations & Fines
Property owners can be required to submit information and make lighting changes the city deems necessary to eliminate light pollution if the city receives complaints about exterior lighting, even for fixtures that were legally nonconforming when installed. New or replaced luminaires that no longer qualify as legally nonconforming must comply fully with the current standards.
Frequently Asked Questions
How much light can spill onto my neighbor's yard in Littleton?
Does Littleton require commercial lighting to turn off at night?
Sources & Official References
Other rules in Littleton
Compare Littleton to another location·View the Colorado outdoor lighting overview
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Light Trespass & Shielding in Nearby Cities
How other cities in Arapahoe County handle light trespass & shielding.