Outdoor Lighting in Gardena, CA (2026)
3 verified outdoor lighting rules for Gardena, California, sourced directly from the municipal code and official government pages.
Verified from official government sources
Dark Sky Rules
Multifamily developments in Gardena must enclose exterior light bulbs and LEDs on top and sides when mounted to a building, pole, or other structure. Suspended string lights and holiday lights are exempted, and all fixtures on a building must match in design, materials, and color.
Gardena Exterior Light Shielding Requirement
Some RestrictionsGardena Municipal Code § 18.42.095(H)(1)-(2)
1. All exterior light bulbs and LEDs must be enclosed on the top and sides when mounted to the side of a building, a pole, or other structure. The enclosing material may be glass, plastic, or metal, except that: i. Suspended light strings may have exposed bulbs; and ii. Holiday lights are exempt from this subsection. 2. All exterior lighting fixtures on the same building shall be of the same ma...
Light Trespass & Shielding
Gardena's security and lighting plan rules bar security lighting from being directed beyond the property lines of the site it serves. Commercial, industrial, and multifamily developments must also meet minimum footcandle levels for common areas without spilling light onto neighbors.
Gardena Security Lighting Cannot Cross Property Lines
Some RestrictionsGardena Municipal Code § 18.42.150(A)-(C)
A. Intensity. 1. Lighting plans for commercial and industrial developments shall demonstrate an average of two footcandles with no single point less than one footcandle for all public/common areas; 2. Lighting plans for multifamily developments shall demonstrate an average of one footcandle for all public and common areas. B. All entries, parking areas, trash enclosures, active outdoor areas, a...
Billboard Lighting
Gardena requires all sign and billboard lighting to be hooded and aimed at the sign face itself, never spilling onto neighboring properties, under Municipal Code § 18.58.060(D). Where an illuminated sign is visible from a residential zone, the light must be shielded to keep it from spreading into that residential area.
Gardena Sign and Billboard Lighting Rule
Some RestrictionsGardena Municipal Code § 18.58.060(D)
D. Lighting. All lighting and illumination of signs, when allowed, shall comply with all applicable safety codes. All external lighting shall be hooded and directed to the sign face and away from adjacent properties. On uses where the sign is visible from a residential zone, the illumination shall be shielded to minimize the flow of light into the residential zone.
Looking for Los Angeles County county-wide rules?
County ordinances apply to unincorporated areas and may supplement Gardena city rules.
Outdoor Lighting in Los Angeles County →