Local rules · checked November 14, 2026

Dark-sky and HOA lighting rules

Every town here limits glare in some way, and Highlands Ranch needs HRCA approval before new fixtures go in. Here is what each source actually says.

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Highlands Ranch (HRCA)

Highlands Ranch is unincorporated Douglas County, so the HRCA's Residential Improvement Guidelines (adopted October 2024) are the main rulebook. Section 2.44 requires ARC approval for "new/replacement exterior light fixtures, including decorative, security, landscaping and accent, and permanent eave/trim," with images, specs and photos of placement. Key limits:

• All fixtures keep the light cone within the property and cause no glare to other properties.
• Landscape and accent fixtures "Must be low voltage and integrated into landscape plan."
• Decorative house-mounted fixtures up to 500 lumens; security fixtures up to 1,000 lumens and fully shielded; no fixture higher than 10 feet.
• Motion-sensor lights time out within 5 minutes; all floodlights need ARC approval.
• Permanent eave lights: in the soffit, downward, LEDs at least 9 inches apart, 15 lumens per LED at most.
• Holiday lights need no approval; 30 days before to 30 days after the holiday, off by 11 pm.

Douglas County guidance

The county's dark-sky page asks residents to use fully shielded fixtures, keep driveway and entry lights low and at or under 900 lumens, use color temperature no higher than 3000K, and says landscape lighting is "discouraged, especially up-lighting or 'moonlighting' of trees." Its sample HOA rule keeps fixtures under 10 feet and aims light down and inside the property.

Lone Tree

Lone Tree Municipal Code Sec. 16-30-20 says external lighting must be shielded so the bulb or direct lamp image "is not visible from any adjacent property." On residential land, floodlights need external shielding and may add no more than 0.1 foot-candles measured 20 feet beyond the property line; photocells and timers that switch floodlights off by 11 pm are encouraged.

Castle Pines

The City's Section 30 lighting standards exempt single-family residential lighting "except as prohibited herein," prohibit blinking, flashing or changing-intensity lights, and say single-family areas "should be limited to 2400 lumens per fixture unless shielded," with security lighting on motion sensors. This PDF dates from 2019; ask the City whether a newer development code has replaced it.

Parker

Parker's Land Development Ordinance 13.08.110 exempts lots with only single-family or duplex homes from most of its outdoor lighting rules, "except that lighting fixtures shall not emit more than nine hundred (900) lumens." Temporary holiday displays are exempt.

Centennial

Centennial Ordinance 2025-O-03 (Land Development Code 12-6-702) says that for single-family detached homes on lots not governed by a site plan, all exterior lighting, spotlights and security lighting included, "shall be fully shielded to prevent glare and light trespass."

Wiring and permits

Colorado's electrician licensing law does not apply to class 2 or class 3 power-limited circuits (C.R.S. 12-115-116), which covers many low-voltage landscape systems. A new outdoor outlet or hardwired fixture is line-voltage work. Douglas County's electrical permit form lists "Low Voltage Wiring" as a permit type. See low voltage, line voltage or solar.

Related

• Low voltage, line voltage or solar
• Tree and garden lighting
• Permanent roofline lighting