Outdoor Lighting in San Diego, CA (2026)
2 verified outdoor lighting rules for San Diego, California, sourced directly from the municipal code and official government pages.
Verified from official government sources
Dark Sky Rules
San Diego caps most outdoor lighting at 4000 Kelvin color temperature and requires it off between 11 p.m. and 6 a.m., with a stricter 2500 Kelvin/4,050-lumen cap near the Palomar and Mount Laguna observatories.
San Diego Dark-Sky Lighting Curfew
Some RestrictionsSan Diego Municipal Code § 142.0740(c)(4)-(5)(A)(ii)
(4) Outdoor lighting shall not exceed nominal 4000 Kelvin Color Correlated Temperature (CCT). (5) All outdoor lighting, including search lights, shall be turned off between 11:00 P.M. and 6:00 A.M. except: (A) Outdoor lighting may remain lighted for commercial and ind...
Light Trespass & Shielding
San Diego exempts security lighting for walkways, equipment yards, and parking lots from its 11 p.m. curfew, but only if adequate public-safety lighting is maintained and output is reduced after 11 p.m. where practicable.
San Diego Security Lighting Curfew
Some RestrictionsSan Diego Municipal Code § 142.0740(c)(5)(A)
Outdoor lighting may remain lighted for commercial and industrial uses that continue to be fully operational after 11:00 P.M. such as sales, assembly, and repair; and for security purposes or to illuminate walkways, roadways, equipment yards, and parking lots s...
Looking for San Diego County county-wide rules?
County ordinances apply to unincorporated areas and may supplement San Diego city rules.
Outdoor Lighting in San Diego County →