Skip to main content
CityRuleLookup

Outdoor Lighting in Los Angeles, CA (2026)

2 verified outdoor lighting rules for Los Angeles, California, sourced directly from the municipal code and official government pages.

Verified from official government sources

Light Trespass & Shielding

LA prohibits exterior lighting that causes more than two footcandles of illumination on neighboring residential windows, decks, balconies, or ground areas, or that produces direct glare onto those surfaces.

Outdoor Lighting: Light Trespass

Some Restrictions

LAMC § 93.0117 (Article 3 — Electrical Code, Chapter IX)

SEC. 93.0117. OUTDOOR LIGHTING AFFECTING RESIDENTIAL PROPERTY. (b) No person shall construct, establish, create, or maintain any stationary exterior light source that may cause the following locations to be either illuminated by more than two footcandles (21.5 lx) of lighting intensity or receive direct glare from the light source. Direct glare, as used in this subsection is a glare resulting f...

Billboard Lighting

Every illuminated sign in Los Angeles must be arranged so that its light intensity does not exceed 3 foot candles above ambient at the property line of the nearest residentially zoned property.

Outdoor Lighting: Billboard Lighting

Some Restrictions

LAMC § 14.4.4(E)

E. Sign Illumination Limitations. No sign shall be arranged and illuminated in a manner that will produce a light intensity of greater than three foot candles above ambient lighting, as measured at the property line of the nearest residentially zoned property.

Looking for Los Angeles County county-wide rules?

County ordinances apply to unincorporated areas and may supplement Los Angeles city rules.

Outdoor Lighting in Los Angeles County