Spokane Valley, WA Outdoor Lighting: Light Trespass & Shielding (2026)
Key Facts
- Governing section
- SVMC § 19.70.050(I)
- Glare standard
- Shielded, no light above 90°
- Parking lot light height cap
- 24 feet
- Walkway light height cap
- 16 feet
- Exempt lighting
- Public street lighting
Summary
Spokane Valley requires all outdoor lighting in residential zones to be shielded so it doesn't spill glare onto neighboring property, and bars fixtures from emitting light above 90 degrees, under SVMC § 19.70.050(I)(3). Parking lot lights are also capped at 24 feet and walkway lights at 16 feet.
I. The following design standards apply to all outdoor lighting in residential zones:
1. All new development shall provide lighting within parking lots, along pedestrian walkways, and accessible routes of travel.
2. Lighting fixtures shall be limited to heights of no more than 24 feet for parking lots and no more than 16 feet for pedestrian walkways.
3. All lighting shall be shielded from producing off-site glare, either through exterior shields or through optical design inside the fixture, and shall not emit light above 90 degrees.
4. Street lighting installed by the City or other public utilities is exempt from SVMC § 19.70.050(I).
Full Breakdown
050(I) lists four design standards for outdoor lighting in residential zones. ' The 90-degree cutoff means light can be aimed downward and to the sides but not upward past horizontal, which is what stops a fixture from throwing glare across a property line into a neighbor's yard or window. The same subsection pairs that shielding requirement with height limits under (I)(2): parking lot lighting fixtures cannot exceed 24 feet, and pedestrian walkway lighting is capped at 16 feet. Subsection (I)(1) requires new development to actually install lighting within parking lots, along pedestrian walkways, and on accessible routes of travel in the first place, so the shielding rule applies to lighting the code already mandates, not optional lighting.
The one carve-out is subsection (I)(4), which exempts street lighting installed by the City or another public utility from the whole subsection, since that lighting is designed and sited under separate utility standards rather than a private development's site plan.
Violations & Fines
An unshielded fixture that throws glare onto an adjoining lot, or a parking lot light installed over the 24-foot cap, is reviewed against SVMC § 19.70.050(I) during site plan approval and can be flagged for correction before a certificate of occupancy issues. A fixture installed without shielding after occupancy is handled as a zoning violation under Chapter 17.100 SVMC, starting with a warning and escalating to a notice and order with civil penalties if the glare isn't corrected.
Frequently Asked Questions
What does Spokane Valley require for outdoor lighting shielding?
Is there a height limit on parking lot lights?
Does the shielding rule apply to streetlights?
Sources & Official References
Other rules in Spokane Valley
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