Outdoor Lighting in Riverside, CA (2026)
3 verified outdoor lighting rules for Riverside, California, sourced directly from the municipal code and official government pages.
Verified from official government sources
Dark Sky Rules
Riverside's outdoor lighting chapter exists 'to preserve the naturally dark night sky' by limiting glare and light trespass. New and modified fixtures must be shielded and downward-facing, capped at 3,000 Kelvin color temperature, and metered against lumen and footcandle limits that vary by the property's assigned lighting zone.
Riverside Dark-Sky Outdoor Lighting Standards
Some RestrictionsRiverside Municipal Code §§ 19.556.010, 19.556.080(A)
This chapter sets forth standards to ensure that outdoor lighting is adequate for safety, security and commerce while preserving the naturally dark night sky by mitigating artificial sky glow and preventing glare and light trespass....The correlated color temperature of all outdoor lighting shall be 3,000 Kelvin or less...4.Lighting shall be hooded or shielded so as to prevent either the spilla...
Light Trespass & Shielding
Riverside's Outdoor Lighting chapter caps brightness, mounting height and light trespass to keep the night sky dark near Mount Palomar Observatory while still allowing safety lighting. Chapter 19.556 bans flashing or color-changing fixtures, limits lumens per residence by zone, and requires design review submittal for new or modified lighting.
Riverside Outdoor Lighting and Dark-Sky Limits
Some RestrictionsCity of Riverside, CA, Municipal Code Title 19 (Zoning), Sec. 19.556.010 (Purpose) & Sec. 19.556.050 (Prohibited Lighting)
This chapter sets forth standards to ensure that outdoor lighting is adequate for safety, security and commerce while preserving the naturally dark night sky by mitigating artificial sky glow and preventing glare and light trespass. ... A.The following types of lighting are prohibited unless in conjunction with the exemptions provided in Section 19.556.040:1.Dynamic lighting, such as moving lig...
Billboard Lighting
When Riverside allows a legally nonconforming billboard to relocate onto the same parcel after annexation, RMC § 19.623.030(7) requires the new sign's lighting to match or resemble the original and bars any display technology that creates a moving or changing image. The rule applies only to administratively approved relocations under § 19.623.030, not to new billboard construction, which the city otherwise prohibits.
Riverside Relocated Billboard Lighting Rules
Significant RestrictionsRiverside Municipal Code § 19.623.030(7)
7.All proposed lighting for the new or relocated billboard shall be the same or similar to the lighting of the original billboard and, in any case, the new sign will not utilize display technology which creates a moving or changing image, of the illusion thereof; and
Looking for Riverside County county-wide rules?
County ordinances apply to unincorporated areas and may supplement Riverside city rules.
Outdoor Lighting in Riverside County →