Should a lighting code limit light pole heights?
By the International Dark Sky Association

Some communities have specified limits on the heights of lighting poles, either through a lighting code or otherwise in development design standards. There can be two intentions here, but the results of such restrictions may not be what is intended.

If the intention is to limit the daytime visual impact of tall light poles against landscape views, then shorter poles may help, but lighting uniformity goals of the designer may offset the gains from shorter poles by causing an increase in the number of poles. More poles also are likely to cost more money to install and operate.

Pole height restrictions may result in more poles and more lights to maintain uniformity of illumination levels over a given area

If the intention is to limit the nightime visual impact of lights, in particular the spread of light from high luminaires into surrounding areas (light trespass), limiting pole heights may not have the hoped for effect. Again, since most area lighting has certain target uniformity levels, shorter poles will mean that more must be used, which may increase the visual impact at night as well as in the daytime. While these poles will be shorter, a community must carefully evaluate whether the trade-off of more poles might compromise the original intent to reduce visual clutter.

Pole height restrictions may cause more glare with higher angle candlepower distributions

Unfortunately, in attempts to reduce costs, some designers will avoid increasing the number of poles by using luminaires that have greater high-angle luminance (see illustration above), that is, luminaires that throw more light to the side. These luminaires would achieve the illuminance and uniformity specifications sought with fewer poles, but will do so at the cost of increased glare. This will lead to increased light trespass, just the opposite of what the goal may have been in restricting pole heights. Visibility is likely to be compromised as well.

In general, it is not recommended that a lighting code limit pole heights. With good designs using fully shielded luminaires, poles with standard heights (up to about 11 meters or 35 feet) are in most situations minimally obtrusive. If there is trouble in your community due to unusual circumstances or practice with the use of unusually tall poles (over about 14 meters or 45 feet), then pole height restrictions may be considered to address the problem, though it is not recommended to restrict heights to much below about 8 meters (25 feet).