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 on facilities that receive state funds must be cutoff in most instances.
TEXAS LAW FOR LIGHTING AT SITES WITH STATE FUNDING
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.
TEXAS CODE TO ALLOW SELECT COUNTIES TO REGULATE OUTDOOR LIGHTING
The 2021 Texas Legislative session restricted the authority of municipalities to regulate outdoor lighting except for 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 cannot 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 unwilling to regulate outdoor lighting. This is 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 Lighting Codes
- Bexar County
- City of Alpine
- City of Austin
- City of Dripping Springs
- City of El Paso
- City of Blanco
- 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 Llano
- City of Marfa
- City of Midland
- City of Plano
- City of Port Aransas
- City of San Antonio
- 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 Leakey
- City of Llano
- City of Mason
- Comal County
- Edwards County
- Gillespie County
- Hays County
- Kendall County
- Kerr County
- Kimble County
- Llano County
- Mason County
- Real County
- Uvalde County
