Tempe Street Light Standards & LED Upgrades

Utilities and Infrastructure Arizona 3 Minutes Read ยท published February 20, 2026 Flag of Arizona

Tempe, Arizona maintains standards for public street lighting and manages LED conversion projects through city departments to improve energy efficiency and public safety while balancing glare and dark-sky goals. This guide explains who enforces streetlight and outdoor lighting standards, how LED retrofit programs are implemented, reporting and permit pathways, typical violations, and practical steps residents and contractors should take when they need changes or want to report problems.

Who is responsible

The City of Tempe Public Works department is the primary agency responsible for installation, maintenance, and routine decisions about municipal street lights. Development Services or Planning enforces lighting standards in private development and right-of-way work. Private utilities or franchise holders may own and operate some fixtures under agreement with the city.

Report a streetlight outage to Public Works for fastest resolution.

Standards and LED conversion overview

Tempe applies municipal lighting standards to new development and to public-right-of-way projects. The city has performed LED conversions to reduce energy use and maintenance. Standards cover fixture mounting height, shielding to limit glare, color temperature guidance, and location relative to sidewalks and intersections. For municipal projects, the city follows engineering and dark-sky best practices when selecting LED types and controls.

  • Who sets standards: City of Tempe Planning and Public Works.
  • City-managed LED retrofit: selection of fixtures, photometrics, and schedules.
  • Private development: must meet city lighting requirements in permits and inspections.

Penalties & Enforcement

Enforcement responsibility is split: Public Works enforces municipal streetlight maintenance and outages; Development Services enforces lighting standards for private construction and site work. If a city-issued order or permit condition is violated, the enforcing department issues notices and may escalate to administrative penalties or civil enforcement under the municipal code. Specific fine amounts and escalation steps for outdoor lighting violations are not specified on the cited page[1].

Appeal deadlines and procedures are set by the issuing department and may be time-limited.
  • Fines: not specified on the cited page.
  • Escalation: first notice, administrative order, then civil enforcement or abatement where authorized; specific ranges not specified on the cited page.
  • Non-monetary sanctions: compliance orders, permit holds, stop-work orders, court action or abatement.
  • Enforcer and complaints: City of Tempe Public Works - streetlight maintenance and service request portal.[1]
  • Appeals: administrative appeal or review routes vary by department; check the notice for time limits and method.

Applications & Forms

Typical forms and permits related to street lights and LED work include right-of-way permits, encroachment permits, and development plan approvals. The city publishes permit applications for right-of-way and encroachment work; for municipal LED projects no public application is required for city-owned fixtures. Where a private party proposes modifications in the right-of-way, a permit is required and fee information is provided on the city permit pages (see Help and Support / Resources).

Common violations

  • Unshielded fixtures causing glare into residences or driver sightlines.
  • Unauthorized modifications to city-owned poles or mounting hardware.
  • Failure to obtain required right-of-way or encroachment permits before work.

How to report, apply, or appeal

  • Report outages or maintenance needs via the City of Tempe streetlight service page[1].
  • Apply for right-of-way/encroachment permits for any work affecting poles or fixtures on city property through Development Services.
  • If you receive a notice, follow the appeal instructions on the notice; note deadlines carefully.

FAQ

Who owns street lights in Tempe?
Ownership varies: many are city-owned and maintained by Public Works; some are owned by utilities or franchise holders and maintained under agreement.
Can I change a city street light to LED myself?
No. City-owned fixtures are modified only by authorized city crews or contractors under city programs; private changes require permits and city approval.
How do I report a burned-out or damaged street light?
Report it using the City of Tempe streetlight maintenance or service request portal; provide pole number and location if available.

How-To

  1. Report the issue: use the city streetlight service page or call Public Works with location details.
  2. If you plan work affecting the right-of-way, apply for an encroachment or right-of-way permit via Development Services.
  3. If you receive a compliance notice, read the required corrective actions and file an appeal within the time stated on the notice if you disagree.

Key Takeaways

  • City of Tempe manages municipal street lights and runs LED conversion projects to improve energy efficiency.
  • Private work affecting lights or poles requires right-of-way or encroachment permits.

Help and Support / Resources

  1. [1] City of Tempe Public Works - Streetlighting

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