Marion County, OR Outdoor Lighting: Light Trespass & Shielding (2026)

Light trespass, unwanted light crossing from a neighbor's fixture onto your property, is addressed in Salem through Salem Revised Code 800.060, which provides that exterior lighting shall not shine or reflect onto adjacent properties or cast glare onto the public right-of-way, with fixtures shielded or limited to five foot-candles at the lot boundary. That standard mainly governs new or regulated development, so it is not a universal remedy for every existing residential light. In the unincorporated county, and where no local lighting standard applies, a homeowner's remedy for severe, persistent light intrusion is typically a private-nuisance claim under Oregon common law, which asks whether the lighting substantially and unreasonably interferes with the use of your property.