Springfield, IL Outdoor Lighting: Light Trespass & Shielding (2026)
Key Facts
- Light trespass defined
- Artificial light spilling onto neighboring property
- Rule
- Site lighting may not trespass onto adjacent lots
- Related ban
- No disability glare toward neighbors or streets
- Fixture fix required
- Full cut-off type fixture heads
- Compliance check
- Photometric plan at all property lines
Summary
Springfield's zoning code names the problem directly: light trespass is light from an artificial source that intrudes into or spills over onto adjoining sites, streets or public and private property, and Sec. 155.480(k)(3)(iv) simply bans it for every parking lot and site lighting installation covered by the landscaping and lighting article.
(iii)Light trespass. Light from an artificial light source that is intruding into or spills over to adjoining sites, streets, public and private property...(iv)Site lighting shall not result in light trespass by spilling over to adjacent sites or properties.(v)Site lighting shall not result in disability glare that is directed toward or reflected onto adjoining properties.
Official source re-checked September 7, 2026: no newer edition of the code had been published (publisher’s edition: Code of Ordinances: Supplement 82).
Full Breakdown
Sec. 480(k)(2)(iii) defines light trespass as light from an artificial light source that is intruding into or spills over to adjoining sites, streets, public and private property. Sec. 480(k)(3)(iv) turns that definition into a flat rule: site lighting shall not result in light trespass by spilling over to adjacent sites or properties. The same performance standards add two related bans: site lighting can't create disability glare directed toward or reflected onto adjoining properties, Sec. 480(k)(3)(v), and can't create disability glare aimed at streets or interior drives where it could threaten vehicle or pedestrian safety, Sec.
480(k)(3)(vi). The article reaches every parking lot with five or more spaces and any other site lighting outside a fully enclosed building, Sec. 480(k)(1) and (3)(i), and requires fixture heads to be full cut-off type that shields abutting property from direct view of the light source, Sec. 480(k)(3)(ix), the mechanical fix the code relies on to prevent trespass in the first place. Site lighting other than security lighting has to shut off once a facility is closed, vacant, or staffed only by security personnel, Sec.
480(k)(3)(x), and every building permit that includes exterior lighting has to come with a photometric plan showing the foot-candle value at all property lines within 90 days of the permit application, Sec. 480(k)(4), giving the zoning administrator a way to confirm compliance before fixtures go in.
Violations & Fines
Site or parking-area lighting that spills onto a neighboring lot, street or right-of-way violates the light-trespass ban in Sec. 155.480(k)(3)(iv) and is enforced through the zoning administrator's plan review and the general penalty in Sec. 155.999. Fixtures that create disability glare toward an adjoining property or a public street violate Sec. 155.480(k)(3)(v)-(vi) even if the light itself doesn't cross the property line, and an owner who fails to correct a cited violation risks a fine under Sec. 155.999 in addition to any required fixture replacement.
Frequently Asked Questions
What does Springfield consider light trespass?
Can my neighbor's parking lot lights shine into my yard legally?
How does Springfield make sure new lighting won't trespass before it's installed?
Sources & Official References
Other rules in Springfield
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