# Dark Sky Law: Texas

Texas requires new or replacement lighting fixtures on state-funded facilities to be cutoff-shielded in most cases (Health & Safety Code Ch. 425), and Local Government Code 240.031 lets certain counties regulate outdoor lighting near military bases and observatories, though a 2021 law narrowed which cities can otherwise regulate lighting to Dark Sky Communities and areas near observatories or bases. There is no statewide sea-turtle-specific lighting statute; turtle-season lighting limits are set by coastal cities.

**Status:** limited (checked 2026-09-23)
Texas requires new or replacement lighting fixtures on state-funded facilities to be cutoff-shielded in most cases (Health & Safety Code Ch. 425), and Local Government Code 240.031 lets certain counties regulate outdoor lighting near military bases and observatories, though a 2021 law narrowed which cities can otherwise regulate lighting to Dark Sky Communities and areas near observatories or bases. There is no statewide sea-turtle-specific lighting statute; turtle-season lighting limits are set by coastal cities.

## Statutes
- [Regulation of Certain Outdoor Lighting (state-funded facilities)](https://statutes.capitol.texas.gov/Docs/HS/htm/HS.425.HTM), Tex. Health & Safety Code Chapter 425 (null)
- [County outdoor lighting regulation near military bases/observatories](https://darkskytexas.org/texas-outdoor-lighting-codes-regulations/), Tex. Local Government Code Section 240.031 (2021)

## Municipal codes
- [South Padre Island](https://www.myspi.org/department/division.php?structureid=141): Beachfront construction rules tied to the city's dune-protection permitting restrict visible artificial lighting facing the beach during sea-turtle nesting season.

## Sources
- https://statutes.capitol.texas.gov/Docs/HS/htm/HS.425.HTM
- https://darkskytexas.org/texas-outdoor-lighting-codes-regulations/
- https://scenictexas.org/dark-sky-protection/
- https://www.myspi.org/department/division.php?structureid=141

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Canonical: https://darkskiesdirectory.com/laws/TX