Stark County, OH Outdoor Lighting: Light Trespass & Shielding (2026)
Key Facts
- Authority
- Canton CO 1185.02
- Light trespass
- Must be minimized past lot line
- Residential rule
- No glare onto adjacent property
- Shielding
- Source hidden above 5 ft at line
- County rule
- None; township or city governs
Summary
Under Canton Codified Ordinance 1185.02, exterior lighting systems must be designed, installed, and maintained to minimize or substantially reduce light trespass beyond the property lot line and to reduce disability glare on or off the property.
All exterior lighting systems shall be designed, installed and maintained in such a manner as to minimize or substantially reduce disability glare at any location on or off the property; and to minimize or substantially reduce light trespass beyond the property lot line.
Official source re-checked September 7, 2026: no newer edition of the code had been published (publisher’s edition: 2026-01: Local legislation current through May 18, 2026 | State legislation current through December 31, 2025).
Full Breakdown
Canton's outdoor-illumination code (Chapter 1185) addresses light spilling onto neighboring property. Section 1185.02 requires all exterior lighting systems to be designed, installed, and maintained to minimize or substantially reduce disability glare at any location on or off the property, and to minimize or substantially reduce light trespass beyond the property lot line. Residential lighting must be designed and maintained to prevent glare and light trespass onto adjacent properties. Fixtures must be shielded so the light source and lens are not visible above five feet at the lot line. Stark County has no separate light-trespass rule, so in unincorporated townships the standard, if any, is set by township zoning under ORC Ch. 519.
Violations & Fines
A neighbor bothered by light spillover can file a complaint with Canton code enforcement; nonconforming fixtures may be ordered shielded or redirected. Persistent glare may also support a private nuisance claim under Ohio common law.
Frequently Asked Questions
My neighbor's light shines into my yard in Canton. Is that allowed?
Does Stark County regulate light trespass?
Sources & Official References
Other rules in Stark County
Compare Stark County to another location·View the Ohio outdoor lighting overview
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