Outdoor Lighting in Montana (2026)
5 rules on the books across Montana, 2 cities and counties. Select a rule to read the full details.
Severity: Few Restrictions · Light Restrictions · Some Restrictions · Significant Restrictions · Heavy Restrictions
Dark Sky Rules
Ordinances designed to reduce light pollution, including requirements for shielded fixtures, limits on brightness, and curfews for decorative lighting.
Light Trespass & Shielding
Rules preventing outdoor lights from shining onto neighboring homes, shielding and full-cutoff fixture requirements, aiming standards, and footcandle caps at the property line.
Montana: statewide
StatewideSome RestrictionsMontana has no dedicated light-trespass statute. Excessive light spilling onto a neighbor's property is handled as a…
Read full rule →Billings
Some RestrictionsCommercial buildings near homes in Billings must shield all outdoor lighting with full cutoff fixtures and keep pole…
Read full rule →Billboard Lighting
Lighting standards for outdoor advertising, luminance limits, dwell time, sky-glow mitigation, and curfew hours after which billboards must dim or shut off.
Billings
Some RestrictionsBillings' sign code bans new billboards outright and tightly regulates lighting on the remaining ones: static…
Read full rule →Yellowstone County
Some RestrictionsBillboard lighting in unincorporated Yellowstone County must follow the countywide sign illumination standard: no light…
Read full rule →