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Lubbock, TX Outdoor Lighting: Light Trespass & Shielding (2026)

Some Restrictions
Compiled from the official code textEditor Martyn O'NeillLast verified August 2026

Key Facts

Cap next to single-family lots
0.5 footcandles at lot line
Cap next to street/alley
2.5 footcandles
Shielding trigger
Required over 1,500 lumens
Correction window for glare nuisance
180 days after written notice
Maximum fine
$2,000.00 per day of violation

Summary

Lubbock caps how much outdoor light a property can throw onto its neighbors, setting maximum vertical illuminance at the lot line by the zoning of the adjacent lot, from 0.5 footcandles next to single-family homes up to 2.5 footcandles along streets and alleys.

Vertical illuminance. The maximum allowable vertical illuminance at a lot line is based on the zoning of the adjacent lot, as specified in Table 39.03.029-2, Maximum Vertical Illuminance at Lot Lines. ... RE, SF-1, SF-2, or MDR district 0.5 footcandles / HDR district 1.0 footcandles / NC, AC, OF, LI, GI district 2.0 footcandles / MU-1, MU-2, MU-3, and MU-5, and any other district 2.5 footcandles / Street or Alley 2.5 footcandles. Measurement is measured in footcandles: At the lot line; Five feet above the ground; and With the light meter facing towards the adjacent lot, street, or alley.

Source: Lubbock Zoning Performance StandardsView official code

Full Breakdown

The Unified Development Code's outdoor lighting standards set hard numeric ceilings on light trespass rather than leaving it to a nuisance complaint. 5 footcandles next to MU-1, MU-2, MU-3, MU-5, or any other district, or facing a street or alley. 029(e)(2)). 029(a)(2)). 029(i)). 029(j)(2)).

Violations & Fines

A property that keeps a glaring fixture past the 180-day correction window after written notice, or that installs new lighting exceeding the vertical illuminance table, is enforced under the UDC's general violations article: any person, landowner, or occupant who violates the UDC is guilty of a misdemeanor punishable by a fine up to $2,000.00, with each day of continuing violation a separate offense (§ 39.09.004(b)(1)). The Director of Code Enforcement can also file suit to abate the condition directly (§ 39.09.004(b)(2)).

Frequently Asked Questions

How much light can spill onto my neighbor's yard in Lubbock?
It depends on your neighbor's zoning district. Next to a single-family or manufactured-home district (RE, SF-1, SF-2, MDR), the cap is 0.5 footcandles measured at the lot line, five feet up, with the meter facing that property, per UDC § 39.03.029(e).
What happens if my existing light exceeds the limit?
If it predates the UDC it is nonconforming, but the Director of Code Enforcement can declare it a public nuisance if it exceeds the lot-line illuminance cap and require correction within 180 days of written notice under § 39.03.029(j)(2).
Do bright fixtures need shields?
Yes. Any luminaire rated above 1,500 initial lamps must be fully shielded under § 39.03.029(c), which limits how much light can escape sideways or upward toward neighboring lots.

Sources & Official References

Other rules in Lubbock

Dark Sky RulesSome RestrictionsNoise Ordinances: Vehicle NoiseSome RestrictionsParking Rules: Driveway RulesSome RestrictionsParking Rules: EV ChargingSome RestrictionsFence Regulations: Material RestrictionsLight RestrictionsFence Regulations: Retaining WallsSome RestrictionsFence Regulations: Fence Permit RequirementsSome Restrictions

All Lubbock rules

Texas rules heatmap·Compare Lubbock to another location·View the Texas outdoor lighting overview

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