Plymouth, MN Outdoor Lighting: Light Trespass & Shielding (2026)
Key Facts
- LZ0 lot-line limit
- 0.0 foot-candles
- LZ1 lot-line limit
- 0.1 foot-candles
- LZ2 pre-curfew limit
- 0.3 foot-candles
- LZ2 post-curfew limit
- 0.1 foot-candles
- Single-family measure point
- own lot line
Summary
The City of Plymouth limits how much light a property can throw onto a neighbor's land. Zoning Code Section 21105.06, Subd. 5 sets maximum illuminance at the lot line by Lighting Zone, tightening further after curfew, and applies to any interior light source visible from off-site.
Subd. 5.Light Trespass Limitations. The illuminance levels provided in Table 8 shall be used for enforcement should concerns of obtrusive lighting or questions of compliance arise. This provision shall apply to all exterior lighting, and to interior lighting if the light source is visible off-site. The illuminance values provided in Table 8 shall be measured at the lot line unless said lot line abuts a public street, in which case the illuminance values shall be measured at the centerline of such public street. Table 8 — Light Trespass Limitations Lighting Zone Maximum Illuminance Level — Pre-Curfew Maximum Illuminance Level — Post-Curfew
LZ0 0.0 foot-candles 0.0 foot-candles LZ1 0.1 foot-candles 0.1 foot-candles LZ2 0.3 foot-candles 0.1 foot-candles LZ3 0.8 foot-candles 0.2 foot-candles
Full Breakdown
06, Subd. 5 caps light trespass measured at the lot line, or at the centerline of an abutting public street if the lot line runs along one. 0 foot-candles. 1 foot-candles both before and after curfew. 1 foot-candles once curfew hits. 2 foot-candles after. The rule reaches indoor fixtures too: Subd. 5 applies to interior lighting whenever the light source itself is visible from off the property. Single-family homes get an added rule under Subd. 7(c): they must meet the pre-curfew Table 8 limit at their own lot line, while two-family homes, manor homes and townhouses may measure instead at the subdivision boundary, and any motion-activated light on those homes may not trigger from movement beyond that same line.
Violations & Fines
Because light trespass is a Zoning Ordinance standard, Section 21050.05 makes exceeding Table 8's illuminance limits a misdemeanor, fined up to Minnesota's maximum for that offense, with every day of continued glare a separate violation. A neighbor's complaint is investigated by the Zoning Administrator, who under Section 21050.01 must notify the property owner in writing of the violation and the corrective action required, and who holds police-officer enforcement authority under Section 21050.03.
Frequently Asked Questions
How much light can spill onto my neighbor's yard in Plymouth?
Does the light-trespass rule cover indoor lighting?
Where is light trespass measured for a townhouse in Plymouth?
Sources & Official References
Other rules in Plymouth
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Light Trespass & Shielding in Nearby Cities
How other cities in Hennepin County handle light trespass & shielding.