Reno, NV Outdoor Lighting: Light Trespass & Shielding (2026)
Key Facts
- Citation
- RMC § 18.04.1304(e)
- Floodlights/spotlights
- Must be fully shielded, not visible off-site
- Color temperature
- Below 4,000K; white/blue-white banned
- Security lighting
- Exempt from 11pm-6am shutoff
- Enforcement
- City Administrator via Code Enforcement
Summary
Reno's zoning code requires floodlights and spotlights to be fully shielded so the light element isn't visible from residential property or public rights-of-way, with all fixtures aimed downward and confined to the property line.
(e)Floodlights and Spotlights (1)Floodlights and spotlights shall be fully shielded so that the light element is not visible to an observer on any residentially zoned property or any public right-of-way.(2)Stationary floodlighting of the structure is permissible if nothing else is floodlighted and the lighting is screened in a manner that is architecturally compatible with the structure.
Official source re-checked September 7, 2026: no newer edition of the code had been published (publisher’s edition: Administrative Code: Supplement 64 | Land Development Code: Supplement 5 Update 1).
Full Breakdown
Reno Municipal Code § 18.04.1304 governs exterior lighting citywide. Floodlights and spotlights must be fully shielded so the light element is not visible to anyone standing on residentially zoned property or a public right-of-way; only the building itself is permitted to be floodlit, and that lighting must be screened to match the structure's architecture. Every fixture citywide must be fully shielded and aimed downward, confined to the source property's boundaries or adjoining rights-of-way, and warm-toned below 4,000 Kelvin: white and blue-white light is banned. Security lighting is exempt from the 11 p.m.-to-6 a.m. shutoff required for other exterior lights.
Violations & Fines
The Administrator enforces Title 18 through Chapter 1.05 Code Enforcement: notices of violation, administrative citations, stop-work orders, and withheld or revoked building and site-plan permits for noncompliant lighting.
Frequently Asked Questions
Can I point a security floodlight at my neighbor's yard in Reno?
Does Reno's security-lighting shielding rule apply outside city limits?
Sources & Official References
Other rules in Reno
Compare Reno to another location·View the Nevada outdoor lighting overview
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