Outdoor Lighting in Clovis, CA

If you live in Clovis or are thinking about moving there, outdoor lighting are one of those things you probably won't think about until they affect you directly. Clovis has 3 specific rules on the books covering different aspects of outdoor lighting, and some of them might surprise you.

Dark Sky Rules

Clovis requires all exterior lighting to be directed downward, shielded, and confined within the boundaries of the lit parcel. Fixtures cannot blink, flash, or exceed 150 watts, and lighting must be architecturally integrated with the buildings it serves.

Key details: Direction required: downward, shielded to subject parcel. Wattage cap: 150 watts or equivalent. Blinking/flashing fixtures: prohibited. Entrance security lighting minimum: 2 foot-candles at ground level. Governing section: Municipal Code § 9.22.050(A).

A fixture that is unshielded, exceeds 150 watts, blinks or flashes, or is visible from an adjacent parcel fails site plan review and the Planning Division will require a redesign before approval; enforcement on existing nonconforming lighting proceeds as a public nuisance case under Chapter 92 of Title 9, which can require immediate correction and impose civil penalties for continued noncompliance.

Light Trespass & Shielding

Clovis limits how much light a fixture can spill onto a neighbor's land: indirect illumination of an adjacent property cannot exceed 0.5 foot-candles, and light sources cannot be directly visible from the adjoining parcel or street right-of-way.

Key details: Indirect illumination cap on neighbor's land: 0.5 foot-candle. Pedestrian light pattern overlap cap: 7 feet. Max intensity in a lit area: 7 foot-candles. Visibility test: bulb/tube not visible from adjacent parcel. Governing section: Municipal Code § 9.22.050(A)(2), (C).

A property owner whose fixture exceeds 0.5 foot-candles of spillover onto a neighbor's land or is directly visible from the adjacent parcel is subject to a code enforcement correction notice under Chapter 92 of Title 9; continued noncompliance after notice can result in civil penalties and a requirement to re-aim, shield, or replace the offending fixture.

Billboard Lighting

Clovis caps the brightness of any illuminated sign, including a billboard or off-site advertising structure, at 10 candlepower measured 10 feet from the sign's base under Municipal Code Section 9.34.090(D). Reflective bulbs and incandescent lamps over 15 watts cannot expose their bare face to the street, and an illuminated freestanding sign must sit at least 50 feet from the nearest residential property.

Key details: Brightness cap: 10 candlepower at 10 feet from sign base. LED signs: Same 10 candlepower/10-foot limit applies. Bulb wattage: Exposed bulbs over 15 watts prohibited. Residential buffer: Illuminated freestanding signs 50 ft from residences. Governing section: Municipal Code Section 9.34.090(D).

An oversized-glare or unshielded illuminated sign is enforced by Code Enforcement and the Building Inspection Division as a sign-permit violation. Under the citywide schedule in Section 1.2.01, a first infraction is fined up to $100, rising to $500 for a third violation within a year, or the City Attorney may charge a misdemeanor carrying up to $1,000 and six months in jail for a willful or repeat violation.

The Bottom Line

Clovis'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 Clovis is broadly strict or permissive.

Keep in mind that Clovis 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.