Phoenix, AZ Outdoor Lighting: Light Trespass & Shielding (2026)
Key Facts
- Governing section
- City Code § 23-100
- Shielding standard
- Light below horizontal plane
- Curfew exception
- Off 11 PM-sunrise avoids shielding
- Mercury vapor fixtures
- Banned if installed after 1985
- Pre-1985 fixtures
- Exempt from these rules
Summary
Phoenix requires most outdoor light fixtures to be fully shielded so light does not spill onto neighboring property or scatter into the night sky.
A. Purpose. The purpose of this section is to create standards for outdoor lighting so that its use does not interfere with reasonable use and enjoyment of adjacent property, while also minimizing atmospheric light scattering. ... Fully shielded: ...fixtures so designated shall be shielded in such a manner that light rays emitted from the fixture, either directly from the source of illumination or indirectly from the fixture, are projected below a horizontal plane running through the lowest point of the fixture where light is emitted.
Official source re-checked September 8, 2026: no newer edition of the code had been published (publisher’s edition: current through Ordinance G-7524, passed June 17, 2026).
Full Breakdown
City Code § 23-100 sets standards for outdoor lighting specifically so it does not interfere with a neighbor's reasonable use and enjoyment of adjacent property, while also cutting atmospheric light scatter. "Fully shielded" fixtures must be built and aimed so all light rays are projected below a horizontal plane running through the fixture's lowest light-emitting point: no glare or upward spill. A table in the section requires full shielding for high-pressure sodium, metal halide, fluorescent, quartz, and incandescent (over 150 watts) fixtures unless the light has an automatic shutoff and stays off from 11:00 p.m. to sunrise. Mercury vapor fixtures installed after January 1, 1985 are banned outright, and fixtures installed before that date are exempt from the shielding rules.
Violations & Fines
Enforced under City Code Ch. 23; unshielded high-intensity fixtures (sodium, metal halide, quartz, large incandescent) violate § 23-100.C unless on an 11 p.m.-sunrise automatic shutoff. Mercury vapor fixtures installed after 1/1/1985 are prohibited outright.
Frequently Asked Questions
Does Phoenix require outdoor lights to be shielded from neighboring yards?
Are low-intensity outdoor lights exempt from Phoenix's shielding rule?
Sources & Official References
Other rules in Phoenix
Compare Phoenix to another location·View the Arizona outdoor lighting overview
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