Rowlett, TX Outdoor Lighting: Light Trespass & Shielding (2026)
Key Facts
- Off-site illumination cap
- 1 footcandle max at any point off-site
- Fixture cutoff angle
- not exceeding 90 degrees
- Downtown/waterfront mounting height
- 15 ft. maximum
- C-3 Turnpike corridor mounting height
- 25-35 ft. depending on use
- Seasonal lighting exemption
- 200 lumens or less per lamp
- Zoning violation fine
- up to $2,000 per day, § 1-13
Summary
Rowlett's exterior lighting standard bans off-site light spillover outright: Sec. 77-510(B)(1)(d)(4) says exterior lighting may never add more than one footcandle of illumination at any point off the lot line. Fixtures must be shielded with a cutoff angle no greater than 90 degrees, and luminaire mounting heights are capped by district, from 15 feet downtown to 35 feet along the Turnpike corridor.
(b)Exempt lighting. The following types of lighting are exempt from the requirements of this section.(1)Soffit or wall-mounted luminaries that are permanently attached to single-family residential dwellings, not to exceed the height of the eave, and that do not produce glare onto adjacent properties or public streets....(d)Design standards. Exterior lighting is not required except for purposes of public safety. However, if installed, all exterior lighting shall meet the following design standards:(1)Light sources shall be concealed or shielded with luminaries with shielding, skirts, or cut-offs with an angle not exceeding 90 degrees to minimize the potential for glare and unnecessary diffusion on adjacent property....(4)In no case shall exterior lighting add more than one footcandle to illumination levels at any point off-site....(e)Height standards for lighting.(5)In other zone districts. All exterior lighting luminaries shall be mounted no higher than 15 feet, except that lighting in parking lots containing more than 100 spaces shall have a maximum height of 25 feet.
Official source re-checked September 7, 2026: no newer edition of the code had been published (publisher’s edition: Code of Ordinances: Supplement 29).
Full Breakdown
Section 77-510's stated purpose includes controlling trespass light onto neighboring properties to protect residents from stray light shining in their eyes or across property lines, and controlling light pollution generally. The design standards in subsection (d) require that light sources be concealed or shielded with skirts or cutoffs at an angle not exceeding 90 degrees to minimize glare and diffusion onto adjacent property, that parking lots and background areas be lit no more than necessary for safe circulation, and that floodlights not be used to light a building facade after normal business hours.
The hard numeric limit is subsection (d)(4): exterior lighting can never add more than one footcandle of illumination at any point off-site, regardless of use or district. Subsection (d)(5) further requires that any outdoor light not needed for security be reduced, motion-activated, or shut off during non-operating hours. Mounting height is separately capped by zoning district under subsection (e): 15 feet in the MU-DT, MU-TR, MU-TS downtown districts and the MU-WF waterfront district, 15 feet in C-2 Lakeview Parkway (25 feet for parking lots over 100 spaces), 25 feet in C-3 President George Bush Turnpike corridor south (35 feet for large parking lots, but only 15 feet within residential development), and 15 feet everywhere else (25 feet for parking lots over 100 spaces).
A handful of fixtures are exempt from the whole section, including soffit or wall-mounted lights on single-family homes that don't exceed the eave line and don't glare onto neighbors, and temporary seasonal lighting rated at 200 lumens or less per lamp. Nonresidential projects must submit a lighting plan with pole, fixture, lamp and spacing details at site plan or subdivision application.
Violations & Fines
Installing or operating fixtures that exceed the one-footcandle off-site limit or the district height cap is a Code violation under Sec. 77-1005(A), enforced under Sec. 77-1006 and punished through the general penalty in Sec. 1-13, fines up to $2,000 per day of continued violation for zoning-governed provisions of the Development Code. The city can withhold a certificate of occupancy, order a stop-work correction, or abate the violation, with administrative determinations appealable under Sec. 77-813.
Frequently Asked Questions
How much light can spill onto my neighbor's property in Rowlett?
Are string lights or holiday lights on my house regulated in Rowlett?
How tall can a light pole be in Rowlett's commercial districts?
What happens if a business's lighting exceeds Rowlett's off-site limit?
Sources & Official References
Other rules in Rowlett
Texas rules heatmap·Compare Rowlett to another location·View the Texas outdoor lighting overview
See something wrong?
Help us keep this page accurate. If you notice an error or outdated information, let us know.
Light Trespass & Shielding in Nearby Cities
How other cities in Dallas County handle light trespass & shielding.