Temple, TX Outdoor Lighting: Light Trespass & Shielding (2026)
Key Facts
- Trespass test
- No visible bulb 5+ ft past property line
- Max fixture height
- 30 ft (15 ft near residential)
- Fixture type required
- Full-cutoff, shielded
- Prohibited
- Flashing or mercury-vapor lighting
Summary
Temple caps outdoor light spilling onto neighboring homes with a bulb-visibility test tied to full-cutoff fixtures.
No line of sight to a bulb is permitted five feet or more beyond a residential property line or public street right-of-way by an observer viewing from a position that is level with or higher than the ground below the fixture. Compliance is achieved with full cutoff fixtures, fixture shielding, directional control designed into the fixture, fixture location, fixture height, fixture aim or a combination of these factors.
Official source re-checked September 7, 2026: no newer edition of the code had been published (publisher’s edition: Code of Ordinances: Reformat).
Full Breakdown
Temple's Unified Development Code bars any line of sight to a light bulb from five feet or more beyond a residential property line or public right-of-way, measured by an observer standing level with or higher than the fixture's base. Builders meet the standard with full-cutoff fixtures, shielding, aim control, or fixture placement and height. The same section caps most outdoor fixtures at 30 feet, drops that to 15 feet within 50 feet of a residential use, and bans flashing or mercury-vapor lighting. The lighting standards are written into the I-35 Corridor Overlay's site development rules and are cross-referenced as the applicable standard for specific uses elsewhere in the UDC, such as package stores.
Violations & Fines
Development that fails the fixture and line-of-sight standards is denied site plan approval; noncompliant lighting is a code violation subject to the UDC's general enforcement and civil penalty provisions.
Frequently Asked Questions
Does Temple limit how far outdoor light can spill onto a neighbor's yard?
How do builders in Temple comply with the light trespass rule?
Sources & Official References
Other rules in Temple
Texas rules heatmap·Compare Temple to another location·View the Texas outdoor lighting overview
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Light Trespass & Shielding in Nearby Cities
How other cities in Bell County handle light trespass & shielding.