Lighting standards.
Indianapolis-Marion County Revised Code § 744-604
in effectSec. 744-604. - Lighting standards.
A. Where exterior lighting is provided, lighting levels for all areas and shall be designed and located so that the illumination measured in foot-candles at grade level shall comply with the standards in the following table unless the applicant requests an alternative lighting level for a specific area and supports that request with information that the requested lighting level is consistent with recommended levels in the Illuminating Engineers Society of North America (IESNA) Lighting Handbook.
Table 744-604-1: Light Level Standards (in foot-candles)
Use | Minimum at Entrances | Minimum for Walkways and Parking Areas | Maximum Average for Walkways and Parking Areas | Maximum at Non-Right-of-Way Property Line | Maximum at Right-of-Way
Residential Uses | 2.0 | 0.8 | 1.5 | 1.0 | 1.0
Automobile Fueling Station; Financial and Insurance Services; Food, Beverage, and Indoor Recreation and Entertainment; Retail, Light General; Grocery Store; Liquor Store; Pawn Shop; or Commercial Parking Garage Uses | 4.0 | 2.0 | 4.5 | 1.0 | 2.0
All Other Uses (including Mixed-Use Development) | 3.0 | 1.0 | 2.5 | 1.0 | 2.0
B. All light sources or lamps that emit more than 900 lumens (13-watt compact fluorescent or 60-watt incandescent) shall be concealed or shielded with an Illuminations Engineering Society of North America (IESNA) full cutoff light fixture with an angle not exceeding 90 degrees to minimize the potential for glare and unnecessary diffusion on adjacent property.
[image omitted; see the official code]
Diagram J Full cutoff light
C. Private street or pedestrian lighting devices for nonresidential uses and multifamily uses may be mounted at heights between ground level to 42 inches above grade level or from 10 to 20 feet above grade level.
D. The maximum height of any lighting pole serving a residential use is 20 feet. The maximum height serving all other types of use is 35 feet, except that in the I-3 and I-4 Districts the maximum pole height is 50 feet and in the C-5 and C-7 Districts for active recreational areas and uses the maximum pole height is 80 feet.
E. Lighting devices for active recreational areas and uses, such as ball diamonds, playing fields, and tennis courts, shall be equipped with switching devices that allow lighting levels to be changed when the active recreational use ceases and a lower lighting level is sufficient, shall be extinguished no later than 11:00 p.m., shall have a maximum illumination at the property line that is no greater than two foot-candles, and light poles shall not be more than 80 feet tall.
F. In order to accommodate wind energy conversion systems or solar energy collectors on lighting poles, the pole height may be increased to 55 feet, but the lighting fixture height shall remain as stated in subsection D. above.
G. Lighting on automobile service station, convenience store and other outdoor canopies shall be fully recessed into the canopy and shall not protrude downward beyond the ceiling of the canopy.
H. High pressure sodium lighting and all lighting devices with a color rendering index of 70 or below are prohibited in Dwelling and Mixed-Use Districts.
I. All exterior lighting fixtures shall produce at least 80 lumens per watt of energy consumed, as documented by manufacturer's specifications or the results of an independent testing laboratory.
[image omitted; see the official code]
Diagram K Full cutoff light fixture examples
(G.O. 64, 2015, § 2)
Source: Consolidated City of Indianapolis and Marion County, Revised Code (Municode Library, library.municode.com)URL: https://library.municode.com/in/indianapolis_-_marion_county/codes/code_of_ordinances?nodeId=TITIIIPUHEWE_CH744DEST_ARTVISTEXLI_S744-604LISTFetched: 10/27/2026