Are there any laws or codes requiring a landlord to have some kind of outside lighting installed or present on the front of a residential house? It's seems to me the lack of any lighting on the front of a house has two major issues; first safety, it is difficult to navigate the steps to the door, can't see when inserting ones key into the lock; second is security, the lack of lighting invites car and home burglary, answering the door at night to a possible stranger could lead to bodily harm, etc

Most houses I have seen have at least a porch light. However, if the one you are renting doesn't, I don't think that the landlord has any responsibility for putting one in. It's a "nice to have", not a requirement.