Overland Park, KS Outdoor Lighting: Light Trespass & Shielding (2026)
Key Facts
- Residential property line
- 0.5 vertical footcandles maximum
- Public street
- 1 footcandle at centerline
- Measurement height
- 5 feet above grade
- House side shields
- Within 100 feet of single-family
- Pole height
- 20 feet residential, 33 commercial
Summary
Maintained vertical illuminance at the property line of residentially zoned property cannot exceed 0.5 footcandles, measured five feet above grade. Light cast on a public street cannot exceed 1 footcandle at the street centerline.
The maximum maintained vertical footcandles at the property line of a residentially zoned property shall be 0.5 footcandles measured at 5 feet above grade at 5-foot intervals.
Official source re-checked September 7, 2026: no newer edition of the code had been published (publisher’s edition: latest section effective 1901-01-01).
Full Breakdown
Chapter 18.435 requires all lighting to be shielded or aimed so it does not throw light onto neighboring properties. Perimeter parking lot fixtures within 100 feet of a single-family residential property line carry house side shields. Lighting plans, prepared by a certified lighting designer or professional engineer, include a point-by-point calculation on a five-foot grid plus a vertical footcandle calculation at five-foot intervals along property lines abutting residential property. Parking lot poles reach 20 feet in residential districts and 33 feet in commercial and industrial districts, measured from grade including the base. Auto dealership poles stop at 24 feet.
Violations & Fines
Enforcement runs through zoning. Violations are misdemeanors under OPMC 18.100.110, punishable by fines up to $500 or six months imprisonment, with each day a separate offense.
Frequently Asked Questions
How is light trespass measured?
Can a neighbor's floodlight shine into my yard?
Do gas station canopies get an exception?
Sources & Official References
Other rules in Overland Park
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Light Trespass & Shielding in Nearby Cities
How other cities in Johnson County handle light trespass & shielding.