Exterior lighting and light trespass in Arlington County, VA
The zoning ordinance sets no general light-trespass limit for houses. Private pool lighting must be arranged and hooded so all direct light stays on your property.
A person last checked these rules on October 20, 2026. This is guidance only, so confirm with Arlington County before you build.
The details
- Pool lighting rule from the use standards for private swimming pools.High confidence
- Shielding rules elsewhere in the ordinance cover businesses, signs and outdoor operations next to homes, not houses themselves.Medium confidence
Check a project at your address
SetbackIQ reads the zoning, flood zone, historic district, and environmental maps for your lot. Then it applies these rules.
Common questions
- How bright can outdoor lights be, and can they shine on a neighbor in Arlington County?
- The zoning ordinance sets no general light-trespass limit for houses. Private pool lighting must be arranged and hooded so all direct light stays on your property.
Sources
- Arlington County Zoning Ordinance §§ 3.2.5, 3.2.6.A.4, 12.9.9, 12.9.11, 12.9.12, 12.9.16, 12.9.17 and Article 18. Checked 2026-10-21
[Visual clearance] On any corner lot in an R or RA district there shall be no planting, structure, retaining wall, fence, shrubbery or obstruction to vision between a height of three feet and a height of 10 feet above the curb level within the triangle form…
Disclaimer: This is general information, not legal or professional advice for any one property. Codes change. SetbackIQ is not a zoning determination, a permit, or a survey, and it does not replace an architect, engineer, or lawyer. Confirm with your building and zoning offices before you build, buy, or sign a contract.