Coconino County, AZ Outdoor Lighting: Light Trespass & Shielding (2026)
Key Facts
- Trespass rule
- Illumination confined to property boundaries
- Shielding trigger
- Over 10,000 lumens within 50 feet of home/ROW
- Shield color
- External shield surface must be black
- Motion sensors
- Fully shielded, no exemption
- Curfew
- Off 30 minutes after closing until reopening
- Permit
- Outdoor Lighting Permit, except single-family homes
Summary
Outdoor light fixtures in unincorporated Coconino County must be aimed and shielded so illumination stays inside the property line. Section 4.3.D.5 requires shielding on any fixture over 10,000 lumens within 50 feet of a residence or right-of-way, with the shield's exterior painted black to cut reflected glare.
5. Light Trespass Standard.
A. All Outdoor Light Fixtures, including motion sensing lighting, shall be located, aimed, and shielded so that the direct illumination from the fixture shall be confined to the property boundaries of the source.
B. Any privately or publicly owned Outdoor Light Fixture with an output over 10,000 Lumens located within 50 feet of any residential (including Multiple-Family Development) property or public right-of-way shall utilize an internal or external shield, with the Outdoor Light Fixture and shield oriented to prevent direct illumination over the adjacent property or right-of-way line. If an external shield is used, its surface must be painted black to minimize reflections.
Official source re-checked September 7, 2026: the cited page had not changed since it was quoted.
Full Breakdown
Coconino County's Zoning Ordinance sets a direct light trespass standard for every outdoor fixture in the county, residential and commercial alike. B adds a numeric trigger: 'Any privately or publicly owned Outdoor Light Fixture with an output over 10,000 Lumens located within 50 feet of any residential (including Multiple-Family Development) property or public right-of-way shall utilize an internal or external shield, with the Outdoor Light Fixture and shield oriented to prevent direct illumination over the adjacent property or right-of-way line. 6 requires them fully shielded regardless of lumen output.
7, Class 1 and Class 3 outdoor lighting, plus Class 2 lighting more than 50 feet from a structure, must go dark no later than 30 minutes after the business closes and stay off until it reopens, a curfew tied directly to limiting stray light onto neighboring parcels overnight. 1, except single-family residential installations, which are bound by the standards but do not need the permit. S. Naval Observatory Flagstaff Station from light pollution.
Violations & Fines
Light trespass violations are enforced under Section 4.3.D.4's cross-reference to Section 5.14, the Ordinance's general enforcement chapter. The Zoning Inspector can order noncompliant fixtures reshielded, relocated, or removed, and civil or criminal fines reach $750 per day for an individual and $10,000 per day for a business, with each day the fixture remains out of compliance a separate violation.
Frequently Asked Questions
How bright can my outdoor light be before I need to shield it in Coconino County?
Do motion-activated security lights have to be shielded too?
Do I need a permit to install new outdoor lighting on my property?
Sources & Official References
Other rules in Coconino County
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