Oklahoma City, OK Outdoor Lighting: Light Trespass & Shielding (2026)
Key Facts
- Residential spill cap
- 0.2 footcandles at property line
- Late-night cap
- 0.1 fc after 11 p.m. to dawn
- Non-residential spill cap
- 3 footcandles
- Glare control
- fully shielded fixtures required
- Exempt
- single-family, duplex, mobile home lots
Summary
OKC caps light spilling onto neighboring lots at 0.2 footcandles near homes and requires fully shielded fixtures to cut glare and sky glow.
Spill light onto adjacent properties measured at-grade shall not exceed the following footcandles at any location on the adjacent property:(1)0.2 footcandles when adjacent to residential uses or districts; and 0.1 footcandles beginning at 11:00 pm or 30 minutes after closing, whichever is later, until dawn.(2)3 footcandles when adjacent to non-residential uses or districts.C.All outdoor lighting shall be arranged and installed to minimize glare on adjacent properties and streets. Glare shall be minimized by any combination of techniques and technologies including:(1)fully shielded fixtures,(2)directional control,(3)fixture location,(4)fixture height, or(5)fixture aim. (Ord. No. 24174, § 4, 11-2-10)
Official source re-checked September 7, 2026: no newer edition of the code had been published (publisher’s edition: Code of Ordinances: Supplement 5 Update 1).
Full Breakdown
Municipal Code § 59-12350 sets site lighting rules for every zoning district except manufactured-home, single-family, and two-family residential uses. Spill light measured at grade on an adjacent lot cannot exceed 0.2 footcandles next to residential uses or districts, dropping to 0.1 footcandles after 11:00 p.m. (or 30 minutes after closing) until dawn; non-residential neighbors get a 3-footcandle cap. Parking areas, building entrances/exits, and pedestrian walkways must also hit minimum illumination levels. Glare must be minimized through fully shielded fixtures, directional control, fixture location, height, or aim. Architectural lighting, landscape lighting, pool/fountain lighting, public roadway and airport navigation lighting, and small temporary/seasonal lamps under 10 watts or 150 lumens are exempt.
Violations & Fines
Enforced through the zoning/building permit and code enforcement process administered by the Planning Department; noncompliant site lighting plans can be denied at permitting or cited as a zoning violation requiring fixture retrofit.
Frequently Asked Questions
Does this apply to a house in Oklahoma City?
How bright can a commercial floodlight be at my fence line?
Sources & Official References
Other rules in Oklahoma City
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