Honolulu County, HI Outdoor Lighting: Light Trespass & Shielding (2026)
Key Facts
- Effective date
- July 1, 2013
- Applies to
- City street lighting fixtures only
- Fixture standard
- Full-cutoff or semi-cutoff required
- Governing depts
- Design & Construction / Facility Maintenance
Summary
City-installed street lighting fixtures in Honolulu must use full-cutoff or semi-cutoff designs that direct light downward, reducing glare and light pollution across Oahu.
All new and replacement municipal street lighting fixtures installed by the department of design and construction or the department of facility maintenance from July 1, 2013, shall be full-cutoff or semi-cutoff lighting fixtures. This section shall not apply to any street lighting fixture that is existing and legally installed, or planned and approved before July 1, 2013; provided that any street lighting fixture exempt under this section that subsequently becomes inoperable shall be replaced with a full-cutoff or semi-cutoff street lighting fixture that provides illumination and uniformity equal to or better than the recommendations of the Illuminating Engineering Society of North America; provided further, that if the appropriate fixture for the existing light pole spacing is not available, a noncomplying fixture that meets the illumination and uniform design criteria of the Illuminating Engineering Society of North America shall be allowed. (1990 Code, Ch. 2, Art. 36, § 2-36.2) (Added by Ord. 13-4)
Official source re-checked September 7, 2026: no newer edition of the code had been published (publisher’s edition: 2026 S-10: Supplement 10, 12-2025 Ordinance No. 25-40 through Ordinance No. 25-56).
Full Breakdown
Revised Ordinances of Honolulu § 2-36.2 requires all new and replacement municipal street lighting fixtures installed by the Department of Design and Construction or the Department of Facility Maintenance since July 1, 2013 to be full-cutoff or semi-cutoff, meaning at least 90 percent of emitted light is directed below the horizontal plane. Existing or already-approved fixtures are grandfathered, but once one becomes inoperable it must be replaced with a compliant fixture meeting Illuminating Engineering Society standards. The rule targets only city-owned street lighting, not private or commercial outdoor lighting on private property.
Violations & Fines
No stated penalty in the ordinance; enforcement runs through city procurement and design-standards compliance for the Departments of Design and Construction and Facility Maintenance, not fines against residents.
Frequently Asked Questions
Does this rule cover my home's outdoor lights?
What must new city street lights do?
Sources & Official References
Other rules in Honolulu County
Compare Honolulu County to another location·View the Hawaii outdoor lighting overview
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