West Valley City, UT Outdoor Lighting: Light Trespass & Shielding (2026)
Key Facts
- Max light at residential lot line
- 0.1 footcandle
- Minimum on-site illuminance
- 0.5 horiz / 0.3 vert fc
- Governs
- parking, maneuvering, loading lighting
- Enforcing agency
- Community Preservation Dept.
- Appeal deadline
- 10 days to Board of Adjustment
- Code section
- Section 7-9-113
Summary
West Valley City caps how much light a commercial or multi-unit parking lot can throw onto a neighbor's yard. Municipal Code Section 7-9-113 sets a hard 0.1 footcandle ceiling at adjoining residential property lines, requires fixtures to be shielded and aimed away from neighbors, and sets a 0.5 horizontal / 0.3 vertical footcandle minimum for on-site safety.
Lighting used to illuminate any off-Street Parking Spaces, vehicle maneuvering areas, or loading/unloading areas must conform to the following standards: a. Illumination of driveway access to Streets shall at least match any local public lighting. b. Light poles shall be permanently set on pillars or placed in landscaped areas to minimize direct contact with vehicles. c. To reduce light pollution, lighting systems shall obscure the lamp image to direct light where needed. d. Luminaire mounting height shall reasonably match the scale of the surrounding Buildings. e. Noise created by electromagnetic ballasts shall be kept to a minimum and must not be noticeable above ambient background levels. f. Illuminance levels shall be a minimum of 0.5 horizontal footcandles and 0.3 vertical footcandles. g. Lighting shall be arranged or directed as to reflect the light away from adjacent properties and to prevent glare for Street traffic. The Intensity of light at adjoining residential properties shall not exceed 0.1 footcandles.
Official source re-checked September 8, 2026: no newer edition of the code had been published (publisher’s edition: current through Ordinance 26-30, passed June 23, 2026).
Full Breakdown
Section 7-9-113 regulates every light fixture illuminating an off-street parking space, vehicle maneuvering area, or loading/unloading area citywide, from a single-tenant retail lot to a big-box store. 1 footcandles (1)(g). Anyone submitting a lighting plan for review must show the location and height of every pole and the predicted illumination levels at, within, and beyond the property lines, calculated from maintained (not brand-new) lamp output, and must illustrate how shadows from trees, signs, buildings, and screen walls affect coverage (2)-(3). 1-footcandle line is the number a homeowner backing up to a shopping center or apartment lot can hold a developer to. The section was last amended by Ordinance No. 20-13 on March 10, 2020.
Violations & Fines
The Community and Economic Development Department and the Community Preservation Department enforce Title 7, including lighting standards, under Section 7-1-113, using any legal method including inspection, civil action, or referral to Title 10's administrative hearing program. Officers may enter property to check compliance and, if refused entry, obtain a search warrant. A staff decision may be appealed in writing within 10 days to the Board of Adjustment under Chapter 7-12 per Section 7-1-114.
Frequently Asked Questions
How much light can spill onto my yard from a neighboring parking lot in West Valley City?
Does West Valley City require parking lot lights to be shielded?
Who do I complain to about a bright commercial light next door?
Sources & Official References
Other rules in West Valley City
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