Westminster, CO Outdoor Lighting: Light Trespass & Shielding (2026)
Key Facts
- Governing section
- W.M.C. Section 11-7-4(C)(10)
- Applies to
- Off-street lots except single/duplex units
- Standard
- Not to unreasonably disturb adjacent residents
- Design authority
- City Standard Specs for Public Works
- Related rule
- Screening required under (C)(9)
Summary
Westminster requires off-street parking areas to carry security lighting that is designed so as not to unreasonably disturb occupants of adjacent residential structures, under Section 11-7-4(C)(10).
(10)Parking areas (excluding single and duplex units) shall be provided with night lighting for security and safety and adequate visibility for maneuvering to emphasize entrances and exits and hazards. Lighting structures and their location shall conform to the "Westminster Standard Specifications for the Construction of Public Works Projects" and shall be designed so as not to unreasonably disturb occupants of adjacent residential structures.
Official source re-checked September 7, 2026: no newer edition of the code had been published (publisher’s edition: Code of Ordinances: Supplement 12).
Full Breakdown
Section 11-7-4(C)(10) requires that parking areas, other than those serving single- and duplex-unit residences, be provided with night lighting for security, safety, and adequate visibility, with fixtures emphasizing entrances, exits, and hazards. " That places an affirmative light-trespass limit on commercial and multi-family lot lighting: the fixture type, shielding, and aim have to account for neighboring homes, not just the parking lot's own security needs. This sits alongside a companion screening requirement in Subsection (C)(9), which requires parking areas to be screened so as to prevent disturbance to adjacent residential development from vehicle maneuvering, and the general landscape-conformance duty in Subsection (C)(11) requiring lots to follow the City's Landscape Regulations and Commercial Standards.
Compliance with the lighting and screening standards is reviewed by the City before a building permit issues, since Subsection (C)(7) requires City Manager or designee approval of the parking area layout in advance.
Violations & Fines
A parking lot lighting design that fails to control glare or spillover onto adjacent residential structures does not meet the standard in Section 11-7-4(C)(10) and can be rejected at the pre-permit design review stage, or cited as a maintenance violation under the general upkeep duties of Subsection (C)(4) if fixtures are later altered to disregard the standard.
Frequently Asked Questions
Does Westminster limit light spilling from parking lots onto homes?
Is residential parking exempt from Westminster's lot lighting rule?
Who reviews parking lot lighting plans in Westminster before construction?
Sources & Official References
Other rules in Westminster
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