Oregon, OH Outdoor Lighting: Light Trespass & Shielding (2026)
Key Facts
- Governing section
- Sec. 1153.06, Lighting
- Nuisance threshold
- 0.5 foot-candles at nearest lot line
- Coverage
- Applies in any zoning district citywide
- Enforcement
- Building and Zoning Inspector, Sec. 1105.01
- Penalty
- Up to $100 fine per day, Sec. 1105.99
- Adopted
- Ord. 069-2020, passed 8-24-20
- Stricter district rule
- 0.3 fc cap in Advanced Manufacturing District
Summary
In the City of Oregon, Ohio, Codified Ordinances Sec. 1153.06 requires every exterior light fixture in any zoning district to be arranged or shielded so it does not throw excessive glare onto an adjacent street, into oncoming traffic, or onto a neighboring parcel. Once measured light at the nearest point of an adjoining lot line exceeds 0.5 foot-candles, the ordinance declares it a nuisance, giving the Zoning Inspector a numeric trigger for a light-trespass complaint.
All exterior-illuminating lighting must be arranged or shielded as to avoid excessive glare reflecting onto any portion of any adjacent street or into the part of oncoming vehicles or onto any adjacent parcel in any district. (a) For the purpose of this section, lighting shall constitute a nuisance if it exceeds 0.5 foot-candles measured at the nearest point of the lot line.
Full Breakdown
06, part of the Supplementary District Regulations that apply citywide under the Planning and Zoning Code (Part Eleven), was adopted by Ordinance 069-2020, passed August 24, 2020. It sits alongside Sec. 04's traffic-visibility rule and Sec. 05's dwelling-conversion standard, and like them it binds every zoning district in the City of Oregon, Ohio, not just one commercial or industrial classification. 5 foot-candles measured at the nearest point of the lot line, above which the lighting is a nuisance by definition, with no separate finding of harm required.
That is looser than the standard the city imposes on its own Advanced Manufacturing District under Sec. 0 foot-candles, with subsection (g)(3) singling out light trespass and glare by name for properties used for outdoor sports and recreation. Zoning enforcement generally falls to the Building and Zoning Inspector under Sec. 01, who investigates complaints, and any zoning violation, including a lighting nuisance, is punishable under Sec. 00 plus costs, with each day a violation continues after notice treated as a separate offense. A property owner cited for a glaring fixture can appeal the Inspector's decision to the Board of Zoning Appeals under Chapter 1107. 5 foot-candles at a residential lot line is treated the same as any other fixture.
Violations & Fines
A resident can file a written complaint with the Zoning Inspector under Sec. 1105.12; if measured illumination at the property line tops 0.5 foot-candles, the Inspector treats the fixture as a nuisance under Sec. 1153.06. Continued noncompliance after notice is a misdemeanor zoning violation under Sec. 1105.99, punishable by a fine of not more than $100.00 plus costs, with each additional day counted as a separate offense until the fixture is corrected or shielded.
Frequently Asked Questions
What is the maximum outdoor lighting allowed at my property line in Oregon, Ohio?
Who enforces the light-trespass rule and what happens if I don't fix it?
Does the 0.5 foot-candle limit apply to every zoning district?
Can I appeal if the Zoning Inspector cites my lighting as a nuisance?
Sources & Official References
Other rules in Oregon
Compare Oregon to another location·View the Ohio outdoor lighting overview
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Light Trespass & Shielding in Nearby Cities
How other cities in Lucas County handle light trespass & shielding.