Skip to main content
CityRuleLookup
Key FactsOrdinance TextFull BreakdownViolationsFAQSourcesMore in Maui County

Maui County, HI Outdoor Lighting: Light Trespass & Shielding (2026)

Some Restrictions
Compiled from the official code textEditor Martyn O'NeillLast verified September 2026

Key Facts

Glare onto abutting property
Prohibited
Aiming upward or at ocean
Prohibited
Fixture height
Minimized per director
Grandfathered fixtures (pre-10/21/2022)
Exempt from D/E until 10/21/2025

Summary

Maui County Code section 20.35.060(E) bars outdoor light fixtures, other than neon, from being aimed to throw glare onto a neighbor's property or aimed upward or at the ocean, and requires fixture height to be kept to the minimum the director finds necessary.

These county ordinances apply to unincorporated areas of Maui County. Incorporated cities within the county may have their own rules that take precedence over county-level regulations.

E.All outdoor lighting fixtures, except for neon, must:1.Not be aimed against a structure to cause glare visible from any abutting property.2.Not be aimed upward towards the sky or directed at the ocean or any abutting property.3.Have a height, as determined by the director, that is minimized to the fullest extent possible.4.Be traffic color compliant.

View official code

Full Breakdown

040. 030. 070C phases in enforcement for older installations: any outdoor fixture legally installed or used as portable lighting before October 21, 2022, was exempt from subsections D and E only until October 21, 2025, after which the anti-glare and spectrum limits apply to it as well, except that temporary lighting used on County or state construction projects stays exempt for as long as no compliant fixtures are available at comparable cost. 070A.

Violations & Fines

Under section 20.35.100, a light-trespass violation is enforced through the administrative process in section 19.530.030: the director serves a notice of violation and order that can require the person to cease the violation or correct it by a stated date, and the order becomes final and enforceable in court if the property owner does not appeal to the board of variances and appeals within 30 days of the notice being mailed or delivered.

Frequently Asked Questions

Is it illegal to shine outdoor lights onto a neighbor's yard in Maui County?
Yes. Section 20.35.060(E)(1) prohibits aiming an outdoor lighting fixture against a structure in a way that causes glare visible from any abutting property, one of four anti-trespass rules that apply to all fixtures except neon.
Can outdoor lights in Maui County point up at the sky or toward the ocean?
No. Section 20.35.060(E)(2) specifically bars aiming a fixture upward toward the sky or directing it at the ocean or any abutting property, reflecting the chapter's dark-sky and coastal-glare purpose in section 20.35.010.
Were older outdoor lights ever exempt from Maui's light trespass rule?
Temporarily. Section 20.35.070C exempted fixtures legally installed before October 21, 2022 from the glare and spectrum limits in subsections D and E, but that exemption expired October 21, 2025, except for certain temporary construction lighting.

Sources & Official References

Other rules in Maui County

Fence Regulations: Height LimitsSome RestrictionsParking Rules: RV & Boat ParkingSignificant RestrictionsDark Sky RulesSignificant RestrictionsParking Rules: Driveway RulesSome RestrictionsFence Regulations: Fence Permit RequirementsSome RestrictionsFence Regulations: Retaining WallsSome RestrictionsFire Regulations: Smoke DetectorsLight Restrictions

All Maui County rules

Compare Maui County to another location·View the Hawaii outdoor lighting overview

Get notified when Light Trespass & Shielding in Maui County, HI changes

We'll email you the moment we detect a change in the code. No spam, unsubscribe anytime.

We'll never sell or share your email. One-click unsubscribe in every email.

See something wrong?

Help us keep this page accurate. If you notice an error or outdated information, let us know.