New Solar Lighting Regulations: Target States and Compliance Deadlines

Washington has the nearest deadline of the five states below. On 31 December 2026, its 2026 National Electrical Code (NEC) replaces the 2023 edition. The NEC (NFPA 70) is the US benchmark code for safe electrical installation. Texas (1 September 2026), Colorado (1 August 2026) and Oregon (1 October 2026) already moved to the 2026 code. California uses the 2023 code through its 2025 electrical code, in force since 1 January 2026.

Solar Lighting Compliance Deadlines by State

Each state sets its own electrical code edition and date. This table covers five states. Each row comes from the state’s own publication. Colorado is the exception: its row cites a City of Denver notice about the state adoption. The table does not cover every state, and a city can add its own amendments (changes).

The way a date applies differs by state. Washington applies the adopted standards when the electrical permit is issued on or after the adoption date. It makes exceptions for homes whose building permits came before that date, and for plans accepted for review before it (WAC 296-46B-010). Denver, for example, requires the 2026 NEC for new project submittals from 1 August 2026. Projects sent for plan review before that date can use the 2023 NEC (Denver notice).

To see the code changes themselves, read the NEC 2026 solar changes guide. For a general walk-through of the code, see NEC compliance for solar in the USA.

New Energy Regulations in Texas: Compliance Deadline

Texas adopted the 2026 National Electrical Code as its state code, effective 1 September 2026. The Texas Commission of Licensing and Regulation made the change by amending 16 TAC Chapter 73, section 73.100. It published the adoption justification in the Texas Register on 28 August 2026 (51 TexReg 5776). The adoption has one limited exception for certain outdoor outlets. It is about ground-fault circuit interrupter (GFCI) rules. A GFCI is a device that cuts power fast to stop electric shock (TDLR notice).

The adoption notice explains the exception. It covers listed heating, ventilation and air conditioning (HVAC) equipment under NEC section 210.8(F). It extends the NEC’s own exception. There is no expiry date (Texas Register adopted rules, 28 August 2026; the same text was in the proposal of 20 March 2026). The exception is about outlets for listed HVAC equipment, not luminaires (light fixtures). The previous Texas edition was the 2023 NEC, effective 1 September 2023 (TDLR compliance guide).

Keep the Four Compliance Checks Apart

Link each source to the design requirement it supports. One equipment certificate covers one check, not all four.

A Published Code Is Not Yet a Local Rule

NFPA’s NFPA 70 page names the National Electrical Code and its editions. The edition for your project comes from the authority that enforces the code. It sets the adoption and any amendments. The state table above shows this. Four of the five states have an effective date in the second half of 2026, and California stays on the 2023 edition.

Take article numbers from the adopted text, not from a summary. Review the project’s solar panel (PV) circuits, storage, wiring layout and listing instructions. A small packaged light and a grid-connected lighting installation do not carry the same requirements.

For the project record, write down the code reference, the adoption document and the effective date. Add any written explanation the authority gave you. Where a transition rule applies, note three dates separately. These are the permit-submission date, the installation date and the inspection date.

Solar Roadway and Area Lighting Standards

NEMA’s published scope for ANSI C136.40-2014 says the standard covers electrical and mechanical needs. It applies to standalone solar-type roadway and area lighting systems. A local authority or a tender (a buyer’s request for bids) may or may not require it. Check that authority’s rules or the tender document.

Ask the supplier for the exact standard and edition they claim. Ask for the report or listing, the model it covers and the installation conditions. Check that the evidence names the luminaire, controller, PV module and battery you plan to use.

Battery Fire Testing: UL 9540 and UL 9540A Differ

UL explains that UL 9540 is the safety certification for a whole energy-storage system. UL 9540A is a test method for how fire spreads when a battery overheats (thermal runaway). Do not describe a product as “listed to UL 9540A”. The test method is not a listing for a complete system.

The UL 9540A service documentation describes test levels. It also says how they relate to installation requirements. A test report applies only to the system tested. It does not cover a different battery, box or spacing.

Ask the supplier and the authority what evidence this installation needs. Write down the battery chemistry (its type), usable capacity and where the enclosure sits. For more on fire rules and setbacks (required gaps), see solar fire safety requirements by country.

State and Municipal Lighting Rules

Two state laws show how much the starting points differ.

• Arizona: outdoor light fixtures must be fully or partly shielded (covered to limit stray light). Some fixtures are exempt. These are incandescent fixtures of 150 watts or less, other sources of 70 watts or less, and streetlights where the manufacturer does not offer shielding (A.R.S. 49-1102). A fixture that breaks the rule is allowed if an automatic shutoff turns it off between midnight and sunrise (A.R.S. 49-1103).
• Colorado: new outdoor lighting installed by or for the state with state funds, on or after 1 July 2002, must use full cutoff luminaires. These are fixtures that allow no direct light above a horizontal line through their lowest light-emitting part. The rule applies when the fixture’s rated output is above 3,200 lumens. It comes from 2001 Colorado Session Laws, chapter 203 (C.R.S. 24-82-902). The law covers state-funded lighting, not every private project.

Most outdoor lighting rules come from a city or county. Read the ordinance (the local law) for the actual address. Ask the planning department two things. Is the site in an overlay district (an area with extra rules)? Does it need a project-specific approval? Good questions to ask:

• Which limits apply to fixture shielding, light trespass (light spilling onto neighbors) or photometric output (how light is spread)?
• Do the rules set operating hours or dimming controls?
• Is there a colour-temperature limit for this use?
• Do pole height, setbacks or the foundation need separate approval?
• Do road, park, airport or environmental conditions add rules?

Ask for written clarification when a rule does not clearly cover the setup you propose.

Build a Deadline Register

Take each date from the document that adopts the rule. Building-energy rules from another country are not deadlines for US solar street lights.

Design Checks After the Requirements Are Set

Match how long the light runs each night (its duty cycle) to the PV and battery design. Include the seasons and anything on site that blocks the sun. Write down the energy budget and your operating assumptions. This lets the reviewer see what the system should support. A larger array will not fix a luminaire that does not fit, a weak pole or an unapproved connection.

Read the shading-analysis definition to see how shade affects output. Use the shading-analysis workflow where it suits the site. Software output supports the design record. The engineer in charge and the authority still approve the design.

Frequently Asked Questions

Which states have a new solar lighting compliance deadline in 2026?

Washington has the nearest one. On 31 December 2026, the 2026 National Electrical Code replaces the 2023 edition there. Texas (1 September 2026), Colorado (1 August 2026) and Oregon (1 October 2026) have already moved to the 2026 code. California has used its 2025 electrical code, based on the 2023 NEC, since 1 January 2026.

What are the new energy regulations in Texas and their compliance deadline?

Texas adopted the 2026 National Electrical Code as its state code, effective 1 September 2026. It has a limited exception for ground-fault circuit interrupter protection on some outdoor outlets. The adoption was published in the Texas Register on 28 August 2026.

Is there one national deadline for all solar lighting projects?

No. Each state or authority adopts its own electrical code edition and date. Cities add their own outdoor lighting rules. Use the adoption or ordinance that covers the site.

Do Arizona and Colorado have state outdoor lighting laws?

Yes, with limits. Arizona requires outdoor light fixtures to be fully or partly shielded. These are exempt: incandescent fixtures of 150 watts or less, other sources of 70 watts or less, and streetlights where the manufacturer does not offer shielding. Colorado requires full cutoff fixtures above 3,200 lumens for new lighting the state funds.

Does UL 9540A testing mean a system is listed to UL 9540?

No. UL 9540A is a test method for how fire spreads. UL 9540 is the safety certification for a complete system. Ask for the evidence that covers the exact equipment.

What should I ask the local authority first?

Ask which code edition, local amendments, lighting ordinance and permit route apply to your equipment and your site.