Outdoor Lighting in Camarillo, CA: What Residents Actually Need to Know

If you live in Camarillo or are thinking about moving there, outdoor lighting are one of those things you probably won't think about until they affect you directly. Camarillo has 2 specific rules on the books covering different aspects of outdoor lighting, and some of them might surprise you.

Dark Sky Rules

Camarillo bans unshielded pack lighting, area-wide flood lighting, searchlights and laser lights citywide under Municipal Code Section 19.47.050. Nearly every outdoor lighting system also needs an approved, engineer-certified lighting plan on file before a building permit issues, per Section 19.47.060.

Key details: Unshielded floodlighting: Prohibited citywide. Searchlights/laser lights: Prohibited. Max color temperature (general): 4000 Kelvin. Max color temperature (residential): 3000 Kelvin. Residential pole height cap: 15 feet.

Installing or operating prohibited lighting, or modifying a lighting system without the required plan and permit, is unlawful under Section 19.47.100(A) and enforced by the Camarillo Community Development Department. Violations are declared a public nuisance per se under Section 19.47.100(C), abatable under Municipal Code Section 9.17.010 et seq., with penalties under Chapter 1.12; the director can also order a nonconforming or violating fixture shielded, filtered, redirected, replaced or removed.

Light Trespass & Shielding

Camarillo defines light trespass as light that shines beyond a property's lines or creates a nuisance to neighbors, and Section 19.47.065(A) sets a hard performance standard: zero foot-candles at the property line where a lot borders a residential zone. Complaints are enforced by the community development director under Section 19.47.100.

Key details: Foot-candle limit at residential boundary: Zero foot-candles. Defined term: "Light trespass", Sec. 19.47.020. Enforcement authority: Community Development Director. Remedy options: Shield, redirect, replace, remove. Governing section: Municipal Code Sec. 19.47.065(A).

Operating a lighting system that causes light trespass, or installing/modifying one without an approved plan and permit, is unlawful under Section 19.47.100(A) and treated as a public nuisance per se under Section 19.47.100(C), abatable under Municipal Code Section 9.17.010 et seq. with penalties under Chapter 1.12. The community development director enforces complaints and can order a noncompliant fixture shielded, redirected, replaced, or removed, including nonconforming fixtures that predate the chapter.

The Bottom Line

Camarillo's outdoor lighting rules are a mixed bag. Some areas are strict, others are relaxed, and the details matter. The best approach is to check the specific rule that applies to your situation rather than assuming Camarillo is broadly strict or permissive.

Keep in mind that Camarillo can amend these rules at any council meeting. For the most current version of any rule mentioned here, check the specific ordinance page, where we track updates as they happen.