Outdoor Lighting in Cupertino, CA (2026)
2 verified outdoor lighting rules for Cupertino, California, sourced directly from the municipal code and official government pages.
Verified from official government sources
Dark Sky Rules
Cupertino requires nearly all outdoor light fixtures to be fully shielded and pointed downward, bans floodlights outright, caps color temperature at 3,000 Kelvin, and forces most lighting off by 11 p.m. under Municipal Code Section 19.102.040's Outdoor Lighting Requirements.
Cupertino Outdoor Lighting Shielding Rules
Some RestrictionsCupertino Municipal Code § 19.102.040
All outdoor lighting shall be fully shielded fixtures, directed downward to meet the particular need and away from adjacent properties and rights-of way to avoid light trespass ... All light sources shall have a maintained correlated color temperature of 3,000 Kelvin or less. All outdoor lighting shall be fully extinguished or be motion sensor operated by 11:00 p.m. or when people are no longer...
Light Trespass & Shielding
Cupertino caps light spilling onto a neighboring lot at 0.1 foot-candle measured at the shared property line, bars glare visible above three feet at the public right-of-way, and separately bans fence-line security lights and string lighting that cause light trespass.
Cupertino Light Trespass Onto Neighboring Property
Some RestrictionsCupertino Municipal Code § 19.102.040
No exterior light, combination of exterior lights, or activity shall cast light exceeding zero point one (0.1) foot-candle onto an adjacent or nearby property, with the illumination level measured at the property line between the lot on which the light is located and the adjacent lot, at the point nearest to the light source, except if two adjacent properties are non-residential, or function as...
Looking for Santa Clara County county-wide rules?
County ordinances apply to unincorporated areas and may supplement Cupertino city rules.
Outdoor Lighting in Santa Clara County →