Outdoor Lighting in San Ramon, CA

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

Dark Sky Rules

San Ramon caps outdoor light fixtures at 18 feet, requires energy-efficient lamps, and mandates that fixtures be shielded or recessed so the bulb is never visible from off-site, under Municipal Code Section D3-7; blinking, flashing, or unusually bright permanent lighting is banned outright.

Key details: Fixture height cap: 18 ft, Sec. D3-7.F. Lighting plan: Comprehensive plan required with project application. Fixture type: Energy-efficient lamps required. Shielding: Bulb must not be visible off-site. Prohibited effects: No blinking, flashing, or excess brightness.

Installing an unshielded fixture, a fixture over 18 feet, or lighting that blinks or flashes without Zoning Administrator sign-off violates Section D3-7 and is enforced as an infraction under the City's general penalty section, Section A1-32, with fines of up to $100 for a first offense, $200 for a second, and $550 for each further violation within a year, and continuing daily under Section A1-33 until the fixture is corrected.

Light Trespass & Shielding

San Ramon caps light spilling onto a neighboring residential lot at one foot-candle at the property line and requires fixtures to confine glare within the site and aim downward and away from adjoining land, under Municipal Code Section D3-7(H)-(I).

Key details: Max illumination at property line: 1 foot-candle, residential zone. Glare confinement: Within site boundaries, Sec. D3-7.H.2. Fixture aim: Downward, away from adjoining properties. Review point: Checked at lighting plan submittal.

A fixture that throws more than one foot-candle onto an adjoining residential property line, or that is not confined and aimed downward per Section D3-7.H, violates Section D3-7 and is enforced as an infraction under the City's general penalty section, Section A1-32, with fines up to $100 for a first offense, $200 for a second, and $550 for each further violation within a year, continuing daily under Section A1-33 until the fixture is corrected.

Billboard Lighting

San Ramon does not regulate billboard lighting because it does not allow billboards at all: Section D3-50(F) of the Sign Ordinance prohibits off-site signs and billboards anywhere within the City. Any illuminated sign that is permitted must still meet the general shielding and nighttime curfew rules in Section D3-49.

Key details: Billboards: prohibited anywhere in the City. Governing section: Municipal Code D3-50(F). General sign lighting curfew: no illumination 10pm-6am near residential zones. Curfew exception: business open during those hours.

Erecting a billboard or any off-site advertising sign, lit or unlit, anywhere in San Ramon violates Section D3-50(F) and the sign permit required by Section D3-54; the City can order the structure removed as an illegal sign under the code's abandonment and removal provisions, and no lighting retrofit brings a billboard into compliance because the structure itself is prohibited outright.

Compared to other cities, San Ramon takes a harder line on billboard lighting. The enforcement and penalty structure reflects that.

The Bottom Line

San Ramon'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 San Ramon is broadly strict or permissive.

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