Department of Planning and Development

CONTACT INFORMATION: Our offices are open 8:00 a.m. to 4:00 p.m., Monday through Friday.
703-324-1380 TTY 711
12055 Government Center Parkway
Fairfax, VA 22035
Tracy Strunk
Director

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Outdoor Lighting Standards

To reduce unwanted glare, light trespass, and light pollution, and promote safety and energy conservation, Section 5109 of the Fairfax County Zoning Ordinance contains standards for outdoor lighting. The Zoning Ordinance outdoor lighting standards are summarized below. 

Current Zoning Regulations

The Zoning Ordinance requirements apply to all outdoor lighting, including within above-ground, open-sided parking structures. Most of the requirements outlined below apply to pole, ground, and building-mounted fixtures. However, the requirements do not apply to public street lights. 

In addition to the Zoning Ordinance regulations, properties may be subject to entitlement approvals (e.g., proffers, development conditions, and development plans associated with rezonings, special exceptions, or special permits) that include specific outdoor lighting restrictions. The addition of outdoor lighting to an existing development may also require amendment of previous approvals. 

What’s Required?

  • Fixtures must be full cut-off and mounted horizontal to the ground. Full cut-off means that light is not emitted above the bottom of the fixture. See Figure A below.
  • Light bulbs must have a color temperature of 3,000K or less, except with an approved sports illumination plan. Check the manufacturer’s package for this information.
  • Spotlighting of flags, landscaping, architectural features such as window lighting, or other similar objects must be either full cut-off or aimed and shielded to confine the light to the object.
    • Within the Turner Farm Park Observatory area, spotlights also must have a maximum of 300 lumens.
  • On lots adjacent to residential, all lights must have a setback based on their height or have additional shielding. See Figure B below.
  • Light poles 7 ft. high or less are allowed in any location; higher poles are subject to height and location standards.
  • On all lots (including single family), sports fields/courts, including pools, that are either individually or cumulatively over 10,000 square ft. in area or with light poles that are over 20 ft. high, are required to have an approved sports illumination plan. If submitted as part of an entitlement application (e.g., rezoning, special exception, special permit), the plan must be approved by the appropriate hearing body. If submitted for a by-right use, the plan must be approved by the Department of Land Development Services. The requirements include a perimeter area that must be located on the property (i.e., a setback) and maximum footcandles. 

What’s Exempt?

  • On lots with single family dwellings (including townhouses), lights do not need to be full cut-off or meet the setback/shielding requirement if:
    • The light fixture has 1,500 lumens or less.
      • Within the Turner Farm Park Observatory area, exempt lights up to 1,500 lumens must be located within 3 feet of a door or garage; otherwise, lights up to 20 lumens are allowed.
    • The light is motion-activated with 4,000 lumens or less, turns off within 5 minutes of motion ceasing, and the light is directed within the property.
      • Within the Turner Farm Park Observatory area, motion-activated lights are limited to 1,500 lumens.
    • Check the manufacturer’s package for this information.
  • Holiday lighting.
  • The requirements apply to new or replacement lighting. Depending on when the light was installed, it may be allowed to remain as is.

 

Figure A - Full Cutoff

Light Cutoff

 

Figure B - Adjacent Residential Lot Setback Requirement

Setback requirement

 

What’s Required?

  • Fixtures must be full cut-off and mounted horizontal to the ground. Full cut-off means that light is not emitted above the bottom of the fixture. See Figure A below.
  • Lights must have a color temperature of 3,000K or less, except with an approved sports illumination plan. Check the manufacturer’s package for this information.
  • Spotlighting of flags, landscaping, architectural features, or other similar objects must be either full cut-off or aimed and shielded to confine the light to the object.
  • On lots adjacent to residential, all lights must have a setback based on their height or have additional shielding. See Figure B below.
  • Parking lots with 4 or more light poles (surface lots and the top level of a parking structure) must dim the lights by 50% within 30 minutes after closing.
  • Maximum height: 40 ft. (20 ft. on the top of parking decks). Light poles 7 ft. high or less are allowed in any location; higher poles must meet setbacks, except in parking lots.
  • Roofs and canopies cannot use lights with clear or translucent white, off-white or yellow casing.
  • Sports fields/courts, including pools, that are either individually or cumulatively over 10,000 square ft. in area or with light poles that are over 20 ft. high, are required to have an approved sports illumination plan. If submitted as part of an entitlement application (e.g., rezoning, special exception, special permit), the plan must be approved by the appropriate hearing body. If submitted for a by-right use, the plan must be approved by the Department of Land Development Services. The requirements include a perimeter area that must be located on the property (i.e., a setback) and maximum footcandles.
  • Service stations and vehicle sales uses must have an approved photometric plan. This plan may be approved by the Board of Supervisors as part of a rezoning, special exception, or development plan application, or it may be approved by Land Development Services as part of a site plan submission or a separate submission when site plan approval is not required.
  • Additional requirements apply to signs. See subsection 5109.3.B.

What’s Exempt?

  • Lights do not need to be full cut-off or meet the setback/shielding requirement if they are motion-activated and the light is directed within the property.
  • Holiday lighting.
  • The requirements apply to new or replacement lighting. Depending on when the light was installed, it may be allowed to remain as is.

 

Figure A - Full Cutoff

Light Cutoff

 

Figure B - Adjacent Residential Lot Setback Requirement

Setback requirement

 

  • Construction site lighting may be either full cut-off or directionally shielded. See subsection 5109.3.E for more information about construction sites.
  • High intensity lights such as outdoor search lights, lasers, or strobe lights are prohibited.
  • Conformance with the outdoor lighting standards is the responsibility of the property owner. Site plans are required to include (a) the location and height of all light poles; (b) illustrations of the type of each fixture; and (c) a statement that all outdoor lighting provisions of Section 5109 will be met. The cover sheet for a building plan application will also include confirmation that all outdoor lighting provisions of Section 5109 will be met. 
     

Related Resources

Outdoor Lighting Regulations Around Turner Farm Park Observatory Map

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Complaints

Possible violations can be reported to the Department of Code Compliance through the PLUS portal.

Questions

If you have any questions about these outdoor lighting regulations, please contact the Zoning Administration Division at 703-324-1314 (TTY 711) or send an email to ORDADMIN@fairfaxcounty.gov.


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