Virginia Beach, VA Outdoor Lighting: Light Trespass & Shielding (2026)
Key Facts
- Standard
- Full cutoff fixtures required
- Wall pack lights
- Fully shielded, aimed 45° from horizontal
- Property line max
- 0.5-5.0 foot-candles by adjacent use
- Effective date
- September 20, 2022
- Residential exemption
- Floodlights on 1-2 family homes exempt
Summary
Virginia Beach requires outdoor lighting fixtures to be full cutoff, with wall pack security lights fully shielded and aimed at least 45 degrees below horizontal to keep glare off neighboring properties.
In order to direct light downward and minimize the amount of light spill into the night sky and onto adjacent properties, all lighting fixtures shall be full cutoff fixtures to eliminate glare. The light source must be concealed and must not be visible from any street right-of-way or adjacent properties. ... Wall pack lights on the exterior of the building shall be fully shielded and shall be aimed at least forty-five (45) degrees from the horizontal.
Official source re-checked September 7, 2026: no newer edition of the code had been published (publisher’s edition: Code of Ordinances: Supplement 170 Update 1).
Full Breakdown
Under the city's zoning ordinance, every outdoor lighting fixture installed since September 20, 2022 must be a full cutoff fixture that directs light downward, with the light source concealed and not visible from any street right-of-way or adjacent property. Wall pack lights on building exteriors carry an added rule: they must be fully shielded and aimed at least 45 degrees from horizontal. Illumination at property lines is capped at 0.5 foot-candle next to residential, preservation or agricultural uses, 1.0 foot-candle next to multi-family or civic uses, and 5.0 foot-candles elsewhere. Floodlights on one- and two-family homes are exempt from the full-cutoff rule. The planning department reviews compliance through required lighting plans on site plan submittals.
Violations & Fines
Noncompliant lighting can block site plan approval, and the planning director may require alternative designs or corrective changes; fixtures deemed a public hazard lose any exemption status entirely.
Frequently Asked Questions
Do I need to shield a security light on my house in Virginia Beach?
How bright can outdoor lighting be at my property line?
Sources & Official References
Other rules in Virginia Beach
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