Meridian, ID Outdoor Lighting: Light Trespass & Shielding (2026)
Key Facts
- Trespass limit
- 0.1 foot-candle at residential property line
- Measurement height
- 60 inches above grade
- Fixture threshold
- Full cutoff shield required at 1,800+ lumens
- Floodlights
- Motion-activated, off within 5 minutes
Summary
Meridian caps light spilling onto neighboring residential property lines at 0.1 foot-candle, measured 60 inches above grade at any angle, under the city's outdoor lighting standards for all zoning districts.
All light emitting from any parcel shall not cause the light level along any property line abutting a residential use to exceed 0.1 foot-candle. Light readings shall be measured at a height of sixty (60) inches above grade and in a plane at any angle of inclination. Any light exceeding 0.1 foot-candle, when documented in the above manner, and extending onto an abutting residential use constitutes light trespass.
Official source re-checked September 7, 2026: no newer edition of the code had been published (publisher’s edition: Code of Ordinances: Supplement 14).
Full Breakdown
Under Meridian City Code § 11-3A-11(C), light fixtures of 1,800 lumens or more must have a full cutoff shield and be aimed so their photometric light zone does not cross onto abutting residential property. The code also sets a hard numeric ceiling: light emitted from any parcel cannot exceed 0.1 foot-candle along a property line abutting a residential use, measured at 60 inches above grade in any plane of inclination, any reading above that threshold at the line constitutes light trespass. Floodlights must be motion-sensor activated and shut off within five minutes of triggering. The standard applies citywide under the Unified Development Code.
Violations & Fines
UDC violations are enforced by the Community Development Department; under Meridian City Code § 1-2-1, an uncorrected violation is a misdemeanor or infraction punishable under Idaho Code, plus required remediation of the offending fixture.
Frequently Asked Questions
Does Meridian regulate light spilling onto my property from a neighbor's business?
What lighting is exempt from Meridian's outdoor lighting rules?
Sources & Official References
Other rules in Meridian
Compare Meridian to another location·View the Idaho outdoor lighting overview
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Light Trespass & Shielding in Nearby Cities
How other cities in this county handle light trespass & shielding.