Common Sense Solutions & Resources
Know Your Texas Lighting Codes
Start your education here about outdoor lighting codes in Texas. Explore a list of what is already in place to help you research everything from state to local codes.
Five Principles of Responsible Outdoor Lighting
A joint project of DarkSky International and the Illuminating Engineering Society.
Download a copy to reference in the future.
What Should My Lighting Look Like?
Think For yourself - don't trust labels
There is no national definition of “dark sky” or “night sky friendly” lighting. Every manufacturer can make up their own rules. The Be A Star Award application (explained below on this webpage) is a good guide. You never want to see the light source – just the illumination. Follow the Five Principles of Responsible Outdoor Lighting to have the right amount of light, directed to the area where it is needed, turned on only when a person is there to use it, and in an appropriate color.
Download the Outdoor Light Fixture Replacement Options document included in the Factsheets and Resources for You below to guide you in selecting new fixtures. Keep in mind it lists good examples but, there will always be additional options coming on the market so use this for a guide.
Factsheets and Resources for You!
Download the Info you need
- DarkSky Texas: About Us – Why protect dark skies
- DarkSky Texas: About Us – Programs & Ways to Support
- Outdoor Light Fixture Replacement Options
- What is Light Pollution?
- Light pollution destroys critical wildlife habitat.
- Bright lights do not equate to greater safety.
- Light pollution wastes money and resources.
- Light pollution harms our health and wellbeing.
Design Lighting That Stays on Your Property
LIGHT SHIELD CALCULATOR
Even well-placed outdoor lights can sometimes shine into areas they shouldn’t, like a neighbor’s yard or a bedroom window. The Light Shield Calculator helps you figure out how deep a shield needs to be to keep light focused only where it’s needed.
Enter a few basic details about your setup, and the calculator will show you how to reduce glare, improve visibility, and protect the night sky.
Use this tool to guide your lighting choices and be a good neighbor.
DarkSky Texas Recognition for Your Texas Property: Commercial or Residential
Be A Star Award
Follow the “Five Principles of Responsible Outdoor Lighting” depicted in the graphic above for your outdoor lighting on your Texas property. You will see better, save money, feel safer, and have “Nature, Neighbor & Night-Skies Friendly Lighting!”
When you do, your property will earn the Be a Star Award! Strut your Texas stuff with the Be A Star Award!
Your local group can even manage the program and add your logo in addition to the DarkSky Texas logo that is already on the sign.
Start or Join a Local Night Skies Group
First: Connect with your DarkSky Texas Chapter
Always connect with your DarkSky Texas Chapter for support and to leverage what others have done. They’ll connect you with other “Friends of the Night Sky” groups which are forming to be super local voices of better lighting to protect the night sky and see better.
The Blanco County Friends of the Night Sky was the first county-wide group established in Texas and is a model for others. Click on this text to hear their President offer formation tips based on their experience as they started their group.
Stickers for Night Skies Advocacy
I Love Texas Night Skies
Show off your love of the night skies with these fabulous, high quality, long lasting stickers to promote Texas Night Skies and membership in DarkSky Texas. You can order them in multiples of 10 to help in your advocacy work to protect our night skies. Each sticker is about four inches square. They cost $1.00 each.
Payment of $1.00 each may be made via our donate page or via check mailed to DarkSky Texas, 825 W. 11th St. #163, Austin, TX 78701-2009.
You can also purchase our Texas Night Skies stickers directly through the DarkSky Texas shop. Choose from the original Texas Night Skies sticker or the kids’ version, then place your order online to support night skies advocacy across Texas. Stickers are still available in multiples for outreach, events, and community education.
Explore Our Blog
Insights, stories, and solutions to protect our night skies
Want to go deeper into light pollution, its impact, and what you can do about it?
Our blog covers everything from wildlife and human health to energy waste, policy, and practical lighting solutions. Whether you’re just getting started or already advocating for darker skies, there’s something here for you.
When we think about light pollution, streetlights usually take the blame. But research reveals a different story: billboards and advertising lights are major contributors to
Light Doesn’t Always Mean Better Picture a Texas retail center bathed in intense overhead lighting, illuminating the parking lot, the neighboring properties, and the sky
At the start of 2025, DarkSky International recognized three oil and gas facilities in New Mexico as “Night-Sky Friendly”. This is the first-ever achievement: known
What Is Amber Lighting – and Why Does it Matter? Amber lighting refers to warm-spectrum light rated at or below 2,200 Kelvin that emits little
Artificial Light at Night is Not Just About Stars Picture a Texas night decades ago: stars scattered across an ink-black sky, nightjars calling through the
The Challenge of Light Pollution in Texas Light pollution continues to spread across Texas, affecting both rural and urban areas, as detailed in our overview
Protecting the night sky is not expensive. Small, low-cost changes at home or in the workplace can make a significant difference and actually save money
Why Talk About Light Pollution and Pets? When we discuss light pollution, the conversation typically centers on stargazing, the impact on migrating birds, or the
Every holiday season, Texas nights come alive with twinkling lights, festive decorations, and joyful gatherings under our vast skies. The downside is that many cherished
Step outside on a clear night and you’ll see an endless sea of stars. However, you may not be able to see as many stars
Remember the last time you looked up at a truly dark sky, filled with thousands of twinkling stars? That sense of wonder is what we’re
Across most urban areas around the world, what should be a tapestry of thousands of celestial points has been washed out by the orange glow
Lights are being designed for a community with an ordinance that does not allow light trespass. How do you know the light will comply with
Have you ever had a neighbor’s floodlight beam into your bedroom all night? Or been abruptly blinded while crossing a quiet street at night? Both
Have you ever stood under the night sky and felt completely awestruck? There’s something profoundly moving about standing beneath a star-filled sky. If you have
On April 25, 2025, at the steps of the Texas Capitol, DarkSky Texas organized DarkSky Day at the Texas Capitol. As part of the larger
For many Texans, the local night sky has long been an unassuming yet awe-inspiring sight – perhaps even one of the first things to miss
Away from city lights, the Lone Star State reveals a celestial canvas that has remained untouched for millennia. Over the past century, cities and suburbs
Across Texas, the night sky still shines bright in places where communities have taken action to protect it. To celebrate those efforts, DarkSky Texas has
In a significant step forward for dark sky preservation in the Lone Star State, DarkSky Texas is proud to announce the launch of our innovative
If a picture is worth a thousand words – then what about a poignant, painful, award-winning photograph? For Patricia Homonylo, it may just be one
At DarkSky Texas, one of our top missions is to preserve the beauty of the night sky for ourselves and the generations to come. There’s
The ability to lighten our nights has revolutionized our lives – our feeling of safety, productivity, and even our hobbies have all radically changed thanks
Over the past thirty or more years, conservation organizations have asked Texans to help preserve the unique landscapes that our State has been blessed with.
Over the past 50 years, night lights have radically changed how we work, play, and sleep – unfortunately, not all lights are used responsibly. In
Light pollution has become a global concern in recent years. Nighttime illumination often spills beyond its intended areas, causing skyglow and interfering with surrounding habitats.
Light pollution has emerged as an issue of concern around the world. At night, outdoor lights spread around the surrounding landscape, creating skyglow and disrupting
Between July and November, the skies of Texas fill with the graceful silhouettes of migrating birds. It is particularly magical to hear or see hundreds
July 2024 saw a landmark victory in the cause for Night Skies in Texas: Shield Ranch Barton Creek was officially recognized as the first Urban
Native ecosystems rely on a delicate balance between the plants, animals, and the terrain they live in. Much of this equilibrium happens thanks to the
Stargazing is more than simply staring into the night sky; it is a profound odyssey that transcends the boundaries of our fleeting, everyday experiences. Every
Some of nature’s most enticing views are reserved for the night. Darkness may keep us from contemplating wide landscapes or deep valleys – but it
One of the most important pillars in our battle against light pollution is to minimize or eliminate unnecessary outdoor lighting. However, when we travel across
Unnecessary and poorly thought-out outdoor lighting fixtures create glare and reduce our ability to see after dark. These same lights have erased the stars in
Get ready to make a difference in preserving our celestial wonders! As a 501(c)(3) organization, DarkSky Texas has been at the forefront of protecting our
Texas has always had a “larger-than-life” quality—especially when it comes to its natural landscapes. Its expansive deserts and warm beaches offer enough space to lose
DarkSky Texas talks a lot about light pollution, and one of the top questions we hear is, “How does light pollution affect the environment in
When we try to imagine something eternal and immutable, our minds head straight for the abstract: the passage of time, high ideals, or divinity. It’s
Following years of advocacy and some patient redesign projects, DarkSky Texas members have helped create over 20 International Dark Sky Places across the state. And
Once we understand the prevalence and impact of light pollution, it’s natural to want to take action. What often follows is a powerful drive towards
On April 8th, 2024, North America will experience one of the rarest celestial events in decades: a total solar eclipse. The eclipse will pass across
When we hear pollution, most think of oil spills, smog, or floating plastic islands. But light can also pollute our night skies! At DarkSky Texas,
The fight against light pollution often feels like it’s at direct odds with modern living. Sure, we could completely eliminate light pollution if we all
When we talk about light pollution, we usually go back to one eternal conundrum: the balance between continuing to develop as a society and the
DarkSky Texas has set a high bar for the new year! For 2024, DarkSky Texas is planning new programs calling on their members’ core skills.
Bright night skies may feel convenient, but they have a profound negative impact on our planet. The most serious effects are felt from skyglow –
The night sky has been one of the few constant sights humans could count on for thousands of years. Now it needs us to protect
DarkSky Texas, formerly known as IDA Texas, is on a mission to keep night skies dark and stars shining bright. As DarkSky Texas celebrates its
STATE FUNDED OUTDOOR LIGHTING REGULATIONS The Texas Health and Safety Code, Title 5, Subtitle F, Chapter 425 provides that all new or replacement lighting fixtures
Resources
Documents, Presentations,
& Facilitators Guides
Websites & Videos (A-Z Order)
Examples of Good Lighting
Expansive Orange County Great Park offers superior visibility and preserves darkness for neighbors. This lighting meets IDA’s Community Friendly Outdoor Sports Lighting Program approval.
This facility in Dripping Springs, Texas meets the local Outdoor Lighting Ordinance requirement to shield lighting to eliminate glare and light trespass.
Texas State Outdoor Lighting Codes
State Funded Outdoor Lighting Regulations
Municipal Authorization
In the past, municipalities, but NOT most unincorporated areas in counties, were authorized to regulate outdoor lighting. A select few counties are authorized by the Texas Legislature to regulate outdoor lighting.
In the 2021 Texas Legislative session, restricted the authority of municipalities to regulate outdoor lighting with the exception of ordinances adopted by a governmental entity that is already certified as a Dark Sky Community by the International Dark-Sky Association or one that had declared it is seeking this designation; or an entity authorized to regulate outdoor lighting around a large observatory or military installation.
Note that even the municipalities allowed to regulate outdoor lighting are not allowed to regulate it in their Extraterritorial Jurisdiction (ETJ).
Texas Cities and Counties with Outdoor Lighting Codes
A Note about Local Codes
Local ordinances and codes regulating outdoor lighting vary widely in whether they are up to date with lighting technology, engineering standards, and the science of the human eye. Due to the nature of the beast they also vary due to local politics.
This diversity around the state happens because the state legislature is not willing to regulate outdoor lighting. This is obviously an important item for local communities yet the differences from one location to another are frustrating for the construction industry.
No attempt is made here to offer downloads of the specific ordinances as they change regularly. The attempt is to list the cities and counties that have outdoor lighting codes to demonstrate their prevalence.
If you want a code to use as a solid guide, download our Texas Model Outdoor Lighting Ordinance. A Lighting Plan Checklist, Lumen Compliance Workbook and Sample Lighting Plan documents are also available in the Resources list on this page. The Texas Model Outdoor Lighting Ordinance was updated in 2022 and, at that time, was sufficient to satisfy the IDA requirement for an International Dark Sky Community nomination.
Local Codes
- Bexar County
- City of Alpine
- City of Austin
- City of Buda
- City of Dripping Springs
- City of El Paso
- City of Blanco
- City of Boerne
- City of Bulverde
- City of Flower Mound
- City of Fredericksburg
- City of Frisco
- City of Fulsheer
- City of Glen Rose
- City of Harker Heights
- City of Helotes
- City of Jonestown
- City of Kyle
- City of Liberty Hill
- City of Llano
- City of Marfa
- City of Midland
- City of Plano
- City of Port Aransas
- City of San Antonio
- City of San Marcos
- City of Spring Branch
- City of Troy
- City of Woodcreek
- City of Webberville
- Fort Bend County
- Jeff Davis County
- Johnson City
- Village of Wimberley
Texas Localities with Outdoor Lighting Resolutions or Proclamations
- Bandera County
- Blanco County
- Burnet County
- City of Bandera
- City of Buda
- City of Camp Wood
- City of Fredericksburg
- City of Junction
- City of LaGrange
- City of Lampasas
- City of Leakey
- City of Liberty Hill
- City of Llano
- City of Mason
- Comal County
- Edwards County
- Gillespie County
- Hays County
- Kendall County
- Kerr County
- Kimble County
- Lampasas County
- Llano County
- Mason County
- Real County
- Uvalde County