Local rules only
Arkansas
Last checked October 29, 2026
Arkansas's Shielded Outdoor Lighting Act (2005) bars spending public money on an outdoor fixture unless it is shielded, unless a city or county ordinance finds shielded fixtures too costly against energy costs. Electric utilities must offer a shielded lighting option. Exempt: low-wattage fixtures (150 W incandescent, 70 W other), schools, prisons, state colleges, airport and farm safety lighting, and pre-August 2005 installations.
| Statute | Citation | Year |
|---|---|---|
| Shielded Outdoor Lighting Act: shielding, prohibitions, exemptions (opens in new tab) | Ark. Code Ann. § 8-14-104 | 2005 |
| Shielded Outdoor Lighting Act: provisions supplemental (local ordinances equal or stricter take precedence) (opens in new tab) | Ark. Code Ann. § 8-14-107 | 2005 |
Municipal codes
- Fayetteville, AR (opens in new tab): Unified Development Code Chapter 176 (outdoor lighting, adopted by Ordinance 4714 in 2005 and since amended) requires outdoor lighting to be hooded, shielded and aimed downward. Single- and two-family homes, brief motion-sensor lights, seasonal lighting and downtown decorative street lighting are exempt.
Certified dark sky places in Arkansas
Bringing your own outdoor lighting up to the same standard? See Dark-Sky Friendly Outdoor Lighting.
Sources
- https://law.justia.com/codes/arkansas/title-8/chapter-14/section-8-14-104/ (opens in new tab)
- https://law.justia.com/codes/arkansas/title-8/chapter-14/section-8-14-107/ (opens in new tab)
- http://darkskyarkansas.org/responsible-lighting/ (opens in new tab)
- https://cityrulelookup.com/outdoor-lighting/dark-sky-rules/fayetteville-ar (opens in new tab)
- https://library.municode.com/ar/fayetteville/codes/code_of_ordinances?nodeId=CD_ORD_TITXVUNDECO_CH176OULI (opens in new tab)