To reduce unwanted glare, Section 5109 of the Fairfax County Zoning Ordinance contains standards for outdoor lighting. The Zoning Ordinance outdoor lighting standards are summarized below. These include new standards that became effective on February 12, 2020.
The new standards for color temperature, exemptions for single family dwellings, and exemptions for motion-activated lights apply to new or replacement light fixtures. Routine fixture maintenance such as changing the light bulb does not require compliance with these new standards, except that it cannot result in a higher lumen level or in a color temperature that exceeds the new standard. This means that bulbs don’t need to be replaced to comply with the new standards right away, but when bulbs are replaced, they must conform to the new color temperature standard, and for exempt fixtures, the lumens either need to comply or not be increased.
