Outdoor Lighting in Pomona, CA

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

Light Trespass & Shielding

Pomona caps how much outdoor light can spill onto neighboring land: Sec. 640.A.3.b limits illumination at any street right-of-way line to an average of 2.5 footcandles with no more than a 4:1 uniformity ratio, and separately bars fixtures from being oriented onto adjacent properties, streets or sidewalks. The rule applies to lighting added or altered under the July 1, 2024 Zoning and Development Code.

Key details: Max illumination at street ROW: 2.5 footcandles average. Max uniformity ratio: 4:1. Orientation ban: cannot aim onto adjacent properties, streets, sidewalks. Minimum CRI: 80 or higher. Effective date: July 1, 2024.

Development Services checks light-trespass compliance through the required photometric plan before issuing a permit for new parking or pedestrian-area lighting; a plan showing more than 2.5 average footcandles at the right-of-way, a uniformity ratio worse than 4:1, or fixtures aimed at a neighboring lot gets rejected. Code Compliance can act on a neighbor's complaint about glare from an existing installation that was altered without being brought into compliance.

Dark Sky Rules

Pomona's Zoning and Development Code requires nearly all outdoor light fixtures to be full cutoff and shielded, banning searchlights, skyward beams, and dished cobra-head fixtures. Parking lot lights top out at 30 feet, pedestrian pole lights at 15 feet, and any project adding parking or pedestrian lighting must submit a photometric plan proving compliance before permits issue.

Key details: Effective date: July 1, 2024 (Zoning and Development Code). Parking lot light height cap: 30 feet. Pedestrian light height cap: 15 feet. Non-cutoff exception: fixtures under 9,500 initial lumens. Prohibited fixtures: searchlights, dished cobra-head lenses.

Pomona reviews outdoor lighting for compliance at the permit stage: a photometric plan must accompany any application adding parking or pedestrian-area lighting, and Development Services can reject a plan that shows non-cutoff fixtures above the 9,500-lumen threshold, searchlights, or cobra-head dished fixtures. Existing fixtures are exempt from retrofitting unless they are replaced or relocated, at which point the new installation must meet current standards. Code Compliance investigates unpermitted or nonconforming installations reported by neighbors.

The Bottom Line

Pomona'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 Pomona is broadly strict or permissive.

This guide is based on Pomona's current municipal code. Local rules can and do change, so check the individual ordinance pages for the latest details, penalties, and FAQs.