Outdoor lighting in Brisbane: the local rules

Each rule below links to the section of the Brisbane Municipal Code it was read from, with the code text one click away (checked October 2026). General information, not legal advice.

What Brisbane's code says

Brisbane code What Brisbane's code adds
When lights must be off	Outdoor lights must be off no later than 10:00 p.m. Applies: Residential uses; except lights at entrances, parking areas and driveways, and motion-sensor lights that turn off 10 minutes after activation. § 15.88.060 · code text All lighting subject to this chapter shall be extinguished no later than 10:00 p.m., except lighting at building entrances, parking areas and driveways, and lighting activated by motion sensor which extinguishes ten (10) minutes after activation.
Brightness or color limit	Outdoor lighting must have a color temperature of 3,000 Kelvin or less. Applies: All outdoor lighting except seasonal lighting. § 15.88.060 · code text The correlated color temperature of all outdoor lighting shall be three thousand (3,000) Kelvin or less except for seasonal lighting.
Light at the property line	Light may not spill onto neighboring property. Applies: Except fixtures exempt from this chapter or from the shielding rules. § 15.88.060 · code text Light trespass is prohibited, except for fixtures exempted from this chapter or from shielding requirements in subsection 15.88.060 A of this section.
Shielding	Outdoor light fixtures must be fully shielded. Applies: All outdoor fixtures except small string lights on decks or patios, seasonal lighting, and flag lighting. § 15.88.060 · code text all outdoor light fixtures shall be fully shielded. Lights must be shielded as needed so the bulb cannot be seen from the property line. Applies: Lighting for a United States or California flag and its flagpole. § 15.88.060 · code text provided these luminaires shall be shielded as necessary so that the light source is not visible from the property line.

Who this affects

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Frequently asked questions

What are the outdoor lighting rules for homes in Brisbane?

Brisbane's code: Outdoor light fixtures must be fully shielded. (All outdoor fixtures except small string lights on decks or patios, seasonal lighting, and flag lighting.) (§ 15.88.060); Light may not spill onto neighboring property. (Except fixtures exempt from this chapter or from the shielding rules.) (§ 15.88.060).

Outdoor lighting in Brisbane

What Brisbane's code says

Who this affects

Frequently asked questions

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