Pierce County, WA Outdoor Lighting: Light Trespass & Shielding (2026)
Key Facts
- Governing code
- PCC 18J.15.085
- Standard
- No trespass beyond premises
- Methods
- Shielding, downward aim
- Housing
- Opaque, source hidden
Summary
Pierce County's exterior illumination standards in PCC 18J.15.085 require lighting to avoid glare and light trespass onto neighboring properties, keeping illumination on the premises it is intended to light.
Exterior lighting shall be designed to prevent light trespass into the sky and adjacent properties through methods that may include, but are not limited to, light shielding, downward directional lighting, or specialized fixture optics.
Official source re-checked September 8, 2026: no newer edition of the code had been published (publisher’s edition: current through Ordinance 2026-515, and legislation passed through May 26, 2026).
Full Breakdown
PCC 18J.15.085 directs exterior lighting in unincorporated Pierce County to promote compatibility between land uses by reducing light impacts on users of the site and surrounding areas and to avoid and minimize glare and light trespass beyond the illuminated area. Illumination may not cast beyond the premises it is intended to illuminate. Prevention methods include light shielding, downward directional lighting, and specialized fixture optics, and light sources must be hidden from public view with opaque housings. These standards apply primarily to development and commercial projects reviewed under Title 18J; residential glare and spillover onto neighbors may also be pursued as a nuisance. Neighbors bothered by spillover should first document the offending fixture and contact Planning and Public Works.
Violations & Fines
Lighting that casts glare or spill beyond the property on a regulated project can require reshielding, redirection, or optic changes; persistent residential spillover may be treated as a nuisance.
Frequently Asked Questions
What is light trespass in Pierce County?
How is light trespass prevented?
Who do I contact about a neighbor's lights?
Sources & Official References
Other rules in Pierce County
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