Highland Park · Updated September 2026

Landscape lighting in Highland Park

In short

Highland Park writes its outdoor lighting rules into the zoning code, in section 150.605. For houses, no visible source may shine across the property line, and light at the line is capped at 0.5 foot-candles in the front-yard setback and 0.25 behind it. LEDs must be 2700K to 4100K with a CRI of at least 70. Fixtures over 890 lumens must be fully shielded from the property line, and 120-volt fixtures need a permit. On ravine and bluff lots, a steep slope zone and the city’s tree rules also shape where we can run wire.

Mature trees uplit at night at the edge of a wooded lot — Photo: HK Lighting

The code

Highland Park’s limits for single-family homes

Rule	Limit	What it means for the design
Light at the property line	0.5 fc in the front-yard setback, 0.25 fc behind it	Tight beams and glare shields near the lot line; we measure at night
Shielding	Fixtures over 890 lumens fully shielded from the property line	Higher-output accent lights get shields or louvers
Light on the house	No more than 40 fc at any point; no more than 15% of readings over 5 fc	Facade light is soft and even, not a hot spot at the base
Fixture height	Poles 7 ft 6 in; on the house 20 ft; accessory structures 18 ft; trees up to the maximum building height	Moonlighting from mature trees is allowed
Color	2700K to 4100K, CRI 70 or higher	Our 2700K and 3000K, 90 CRI fixtures fit
Motion lights	Triggered only by movement on the owner’s property	Security lights are aimed and set so a passing car doesn’t trip them
Blinking and holiday lights	Blinking prohibited; holiday decorations exempt 45 days before to 15 days after	Seasonal outlets go on the same schedule
Permits	Required for exterior lights on 120 volts or more	12-volt fixtures aren’t named; we confirm with the city

Highland Park Zoning Code § 150.605 (Ord. 59-15, amended by Ord. O04-2018), as published September 2026. Single-family homes can ask the Zoning Board of Appeals for a variation.

Ravines and bluffs

Lighting a ravine lot

Single tree uplit from its base against a dark sky — Photo: HK Lighting

Highland Park has more ravines than any other North Shore community, formed by glacial meltwater. They make some of the most beautiful lots on the North Shore, and some of the most careful work.

The steep slope zone. Article XIX of the zoning code protects ravines and bluffs, and it restricts trenching and clearing vegetation on the slope. We route wire away from the slope, or bore under it where the city approves.
No amber here. Near ravines elsewhere, we sometimes use narrow-band amber light to protect wildlife. Highland Park’s 2700K floor rules that out. Here we keep light low, shielded, and aimed away from the ravine instead.
Trees. Removing a private tree over 8 inches in diameter takes a permit, and oaks of 30 inches or more are heritage trees. The city’s forestry section recommends plywood or a thick layer of mulch where equipment has to cross a critical root zone. We hand-dig near mature roots.

Before any trench or stake goes in, Illinois law requires a JULIE locate: notice at least two working days and no more than ten before digging, good for 25 days. We call it in and wait for the marks.

Historic homes

Landmarks and historic districts

Stone garden wall washed with light behind young trees — Photo: HK Lighting

Highland Park has about 80 individually landmarked properties, more than 130 regulated historic structures, and local districts on Belle Avenue, Linden Park Place, and Vine-Linden-Maple. Substantial exterior alterations need a certificate of appropriateness, even when they can’t be seen from the street. We check whether fixtures on a landmark house need review before we design them.

Jens Jensen shaped this landscape too. His grounds for the Julius Rosenwald estate are now Rosewood Park, and the Park District’s Jens Jensen Park carries his name.

Questions

Highland Park landscape lighting questions

Does Highland Park limit landscape lighting?

Yes. Section 150.605 of the zoning code says no visible source may throw glare or direct light across the property line. For houses it sets a maximum of 0.5 foot-candles at the property line within the front-yard setback and 0.25 behind it. It also limits fixture heights and requires fixtures over 890 lumens to be fully shielded when viewed from the property line.

What color of light is allowed in Highland Park?

The code calls for LEDs between 2700K and 4100K with a color rendering index of at least 70. The 2700K and 3000K fixtures we use with 90 CRI fall inside that range.

Can lights go up in the trees in Highland Park?

Yes. The code allows fixtures in trees up to the maximum building height, as long as the system stays within the glare and property-line limits.

What about holiday lights?

Blinking lights are prohibited, but holiday decorations are exempt from 45 days before to 15 days after the holiday.

Do I need a permit?

The code requires a permit before installing exterior lights that run on 120 volts or more. It doesn’t name 12-volt landscape fixtures, so we confirm with the city on each project.

Night walk

Walk the property with us after dark

Landscape lighting is designed at night. We’ll walk the property with you after sunset, talk through what you want to see from the street, the terrace, and the windows, and send a written design and price.

Call or text (773) 248-4830 Email hey@rhome.co 3225 Arnold Lane, Northbrook, IL 60062

Sources

Manufacturer specifications and prices are as published in September 2026 and can change. We confirm current figures when we quote.