Shielding and Total Outdoor Light Output Standards

El Paso City Code tit. 18, ch. 18.18, art. III

in effect

El Paso City Code § 18.18.070 Shielding standards.

18.18.070 - Shielding standards. All nonexempt outdoor lighting fixtures shall have shielding as shown in Table 18.18.070. Table 18.18.070 LAMP TYPE AND SHIELDING STANDARDS1,2,3,4 LIGHTING ZONE USE CLASS AND LAMP TYPE | E4 | E3 | E2 | E1 Class 1 lighting (Color Rendition): Initial output greater than or equal to 1800 lumens | F | F | F | F Initial output below 1800 lumens (2) | A(1) | A(1) | A(1) | F Class 2 lighting (General Illumination): Initial output greater than or equal to 1800 lumens | F | F | F | F Initial output below 1800 lumens (2) | A(1) | A(1) | A(1) | F Class 3 lighting (Decorative)(3): Initial output greater than or equal to 1800 lumens | F | F | F | X Initial output below 1800 lumens (2) | A(1) | A(1) | A(1) | F Residential lighting (all Classes)(4): Initial output greater than or equal to 1800 lumens | F | F | F | F Initial output below 1800 lumens (2) | A(1) | A(1) | A(1) | A(1) Notes to Table 18.18.070 A = all types of light fixtures are allowed except that any spot or floodlight shall be aimed not higher than twenty-five degrees from the vertical line between the light fixture and the ground when light emitted from a light fixture is visible from any off-site residential property or public roadway. [image omitted; see the official code] Illustration of Note "A" F = only fully shielded light fixtures allowed X = not allowed 1. Flood or spot lamps shall be aimed no higher than twenty-five degrees from the vertical line between the light fixture and the ground when the source is visible from any off-site residential property or public roadway. Exception: seasonal decorations all be permitted in all lighting zones. 2. All class 3 lighting shall be extinguished between 11:00 p.m. (or when the business closes, whichever is later) and sunrise. 3. Residential refers to single family attached or detached uses located in any of the zone districts such as single-family detached and duplexes. Multiple-family residential uses, or apartments, must use standards for class 1, 2 and 3 lighting. (Ord. 15996 § A (part), 2005) (Ord. 17171, § 5, 8-18-2009)

El Paso City Code § 18.18.075 Interior high intensity discharge lights.

18.18.075 - Interior high intensity discharge lights. Interior high intensity discharge light fixtures shall be fully shielded light fixtures when the light from such light fixtures is visible from any public roadway or an off-site residential property. (Ord. 17171, § 6, 8-18-2009)

El Paso City Code § 18.18.080 Total outdoor light output standards.

18.18.080 - Total outdoor light output standards. Total outdoor light output shall not exceed the limits in Table 18.18.080. Seasonal decorations are not counted toward these limits; lighting used for external illumination of signs is counted, while lighting used for internal illumination of signs is not counted. (The values in this table are the maximum permitted levels and not intended as design standards; design standards shall be the lowest levels that meet the requirements of the task.) Table 18.18.080 Maximum Total Outdoor Light Output Standards Lumen Caps—Initial Lamp Lumens per Net Acre | Lighting Zone E4 | E3(4) | E2(4) | E1 Commercial and Industrial uses (1) Total (full cutoff+ unshielded) | 1,000,000 | 200,000 | 50,000 | 125,000 Unshielded only | 40,000 | 20,000 | 4,000 | 2,000 Residential uses (2,3) Total (full cutoff + unshielded) | 20,000 | 10,000 | 10,000 | 10,000 Unshielded only | 5,000 | 5,000 | 1,000 | 1,000 Notes to Table 18.18.080 1. This refers to all commercial and industrial uses and includes multiple family or apartment uses. 2. This refers to all single-family attached or detached uses. 3. In lighting zones E4-E 1, each residential single-family attached or detached home, duplex, triplex, quadruplex or townhome is allowed up to five thousand five hundred total lumens, or the amount indicated in this table based on the parcel's acreage, whichever is larger. Each is also allowed a maximum of five thousand five hundred lumens of unshielded ("A") lighting, provided Table 18.18.070 allows the lamp's type with "A" shielding. All residential spot or flood lamps permitted are to be aimed no higher than twenty-five degrees from the vertical line between the fixture and the ground when the source is visible from any off-site residential property or public roadway. 4. Public and private schools located in zones E2 and E3 may petition the director for an increase in the lumens per acre cap to the level permitted in zone E4. The director may allow an increase when the school submits an engineered design supporting the need of such increase. 5. For projects using a portion of a parcel, the calculation of the allowable lumen cap shall be based on a project area that includes only the building, parking and landscaping portions of the parcel. (Ord. 15996 § A (part), 2005) (Ord. 17171, § 7, 8-18-2009)

El Paso City Code § 18.18.090 Effective shielding standard.

18.18.090 - Effective shielding standard. All light fixtures that are required to be shielded shall be installed and maintained in such a manner that the shielding is effective as described in the definition in Section 18.18.060 for full cutoff light fixtures. (Ord. 15996 § A (part), 2005) (Ord. 17171, § 8, 8-18-2009)

El Paso City Code § 18.18.100 Light trespass standard.

18.18.100 - Light trespass standard. A. Beyond the shielding requirements of Section 18.18.070, all light fixtures shall be located, aimed or shielded so as to minimize stray light trespassing across residential property boundaries. B. Any lamp installed on a residential property in zone E1 and visible from any other residential property shall be shielded such that the lamp is not directly visible from that property. C. Luminaires, spot lamps or spotlights which are aimed, directed or focused such as to cause direct light to be directed toward residential buildings, adjacent or nearby land, streets or roadways shall be redirected or their light output controlled as necessary to eliminate such conditions. (Ord. 15996 § A (part), 2005) (Ord. 17171, § 9, 8-18-2009)

El Paso City Code § 18.18.110 Multi-class lighting standard.

18.18.110 - Multi-class lighting standard. Multi-class lighting shall conform to the shielding and timing restrictions, if any, which apply to the most restrictive class. (Ord. 15996 § A (part), 2005)

Source: City of El Paso, City Code and City Charter (Municode Library, library.municode.com)URL: https://library.municode.com/tx/el_paso/codes/code_of_ordinances?nodeId=TIT18BUCO_CH18.18OULICO_ARTIIISHTOOULIOUSTFetched: 10/28/2026