Ordinance 2026-15 Residential Lighting

At a glance

Based on auto-generated captions; names and details may be misheard.

What: proposed Ordinance 2026-15 adds section 42-3 (lighting) to the environment chapter, letting code enforcement act on residential lights aimed into a neighbor's windows. Current code covers only commercial-to-residential light.
Where it stands: the Legislative, Finance and Administration committee sent it to the full council on 2026-10-13 by voice vote with no opposition heard. First reading is on the October 26 council agenda.
Next: first reading on 2026-10-26.

Prohibits installing, maintaining or operating a light that shines into another residence; vehicles, flashlights and cameras are not covered.
Language is modeled on Kent County's code.
Enforcement is complaint driven: first notice with no fine, citations from $100 at second notice, matching other code enforcement.

Councilwoman Arndt asked for a measurable standard such as lumens, then withdrew the request after Councilman Boggerty argued a "reasonable person" standard fits and Councilman Rocha noted lumens would be hard to measure.
Councilman Lewis questioned constitutional limits, headlights and flashlights, and security lighting; he said he would read the final text closely.
Mayor Christiansen said cameras should stay out of the ordinance.

About 28 minutes across 1 meeting (from transcript timestamps; approximate).

Meeting	Minutes
2026-10-13 - Council Committee of the Whole	28

2026-10-13 - 2026-10-13 - Council Committee of the Whole: presented; Arndt moved and Pillsbury seconded to send to council; approved by voice.
2026-11-09 - 2026-11-09 - Regular City Council Meeting: final reading on the non-consent agenda (agenda only; outcome not yet recorded). Minutes of the 2026-10-26 first reading are also up for approval.
2026-11-09 - 2026-11-09 - Regular City Council Meeting: final reading on the agenda; result not yet recorded (minutes not posted).