Outdoor Lighting in Rancho Cordova, CA (2026)
3 verified outdoor lighting rules for Rancho Cordova, California, sourced directly from the municipal code and official government pages.
Verified from official government sources
Dark Sky Rules
Every outdoor light fixture in Rancho Cordova, from parking-lot poles to building accent lighting, must be fully shielded and aimed downward under RCMC § 23.725.060. Chapter 23.725's purpose section ties this design standard to preserving dark skies: fixtures must be shielded, recessed and directed away from adjoining properties so no fixture illuminates land outside the site, and freestanding poles are height-capped at 18 or 24 feet.
Rancho Cordova Outdoor Lighting Shielding Rule
Some RestrictionsRancho Cordova Municipal Code (RCMC) § 23.725.060(A),(C),(E) (General Lighting Standards – Shielding and Fixture Height)
A. Nuisance Prevention. All outdoor lighting shall be designed, located, installed, directed downward or toward structures, shielded, and maintained in order to prevent glare, light trespass, and light pollution. ... C. ... Shielding. Except as otherwise exempt, all outdoor lighting shall be constructed with full shielding and/or recessed to reduce light trespass to adjoining properties. Each f...
Light Trespass & Shielding
Light trespass from one property onto another in Rancho Cordova is addressed as a nuisance under the municipal code. Complaints are handled by Code Enforcement.
Outdoor Lighting: Light Trespass
Some RestrictionsCalifornia Civil Code Section 3479
Anything which is injurious to health, including, but not limited to, the illegal sale of controlled substances, or is indecent or offensive to the senses, or an obstruction to the free use of property, so as to interfere with the comfortable enjoyment of life or property, or unlawfully obstructs the free passage or use, in the customary manner, of any navigable lake, or river, bay, stream, can...
Billboard Lighting
Digital freeway billboards permitted inside the city's four overlay zones cannot shine brighter than 0.3 foot-candles above ambient light, measured with a foot-candle meter from 250 feet away, and every display must carry a light-sensing dimmer that adjusts automatically as daylight changes.
Rancho Cordova Digital Billboard Brightness Cap
Some RestrictionsRancho Cordova Municipal Code (RCMC) § 23.743.150(C)(1)(i)
Illumination. Digital freeway signs shall not operate at brightness levels of more than 0.3 foot-candles above ambient light, as measured using a foot-candle meter at a distance of 250 feet from the sign face. Each digital display area shall have a light sensing device that will adjust the brightness of the sign as ambient light conditions change throughout the day.
Looking for Sacramento County county-wide rules?
County ordinances apply to unincorporated areas and may supplement Rancho Cordova city rules.
Outdoor Lighting in Sacramento County →