Saint Paul, MN Outdoor Lighting: Light Trespass & Shielding (2026)
Key Facts
- Governing section
- Sec. 63.116(b)
- Standard
- No interference with vision of adjacent persons
- Applies to
- External building illumination, all districts
- Distinct from
- Sec. 63.116(a) footcandle cap
- Enforcing office
- Zoning administrator, DSI
Summary
Saint Paul requires exterior building-illumination lighting, the kind typically used for security floodlights, to be placed and shielded so it doesn't interfere with the vision of people on adjacent highways or property.
Sec. 63.116. - Exterior lighting. (b)All lighting in all districts used for the external illumination of buildings shall be placed and shielded so as not to interfere with the vision of persons on adjacent highways or adjacent property.
Official source re-checked September 7, 2026: no newer edition of the code had been published (publisher’s edition: Code of Ordinances: Supplement 133 Update 1).
Full Breakdown
Sec. ' This is the standard that governs floodlights, wall-pack fixtures, and other building-mounted security lighting common on commercial, institutional, and multifamily properties across Saint Paul, the concern is not brightness measured in footcandles (that's subsection (a)'s job) but aim: a fixture that shines directly into a neighbor's window, a driver's eyes on an adjacent street, or a pedestrian's line of sight is out of compliance regardless of its output level. The rule applies in every use district citywide, so a homeowner installing a motion-activated security light on a garage faces the same standard as a warehouse operator lighting a loading dock.
Compliance is typically achieved with shields, visors, or downward-aimed housings rather than by removing the fixture. The zoning administrator, under the Department of Safety and Inspections, reviews exterior lighting as part of site plan review under Sec. 202 for projects that trigger that review, and can require re-aiming or shielding on properties found out of compliance through complaint-driven inspection.
Violations & Fines
Building-mounted lighting that interferes with the vision of people on adjacent highways or property violates Sec. 63.116(b) and is treated as a zoning code violation under Sec. 61.901: a misdemeanor, with each day of continued violation a separate offense under Sec. 61.904. The zoning administrator can order re-aiming or additional shielding to bring the fixture into compliance.
Frequently Asked Questions
Can a Saint Paul security light shine directly at my window?
Is Saint Paul's security-light rule about brightness or aim?
Does the security-light shielding rule apply to homes as well as businesses?
Sources & Official References
Other rules in Saint Paul
Compare Saint Paul to another location·View the Minnesota outdoor lighting overview
See something wrong?
Help us keep this page accurate. If you notice an error or outdated information, let us know.