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 enforces a two-zone outdoor lighting code tied to Palomar Observatory. Zone A (within 15 miles of Palomar) caps color temperature at 4100K and prohibits high-intensity discharge lamps outright. Zone B (the rest of the region) requires fully-shielded fixtures and 4100K cap on new commercial installations.
San Diego Palomar Lighting Zone & Dark-Sky Rules
Heavy RestrictionsLight Trespass
San Diego's outdoor lighting regulations under SDMC §142.0740 address light trespass as part of the City's comprehensive lighting standards. Outdoor lighting must be designed to minimize negative impacts including light spillover onto adjacent properties. Fixtures must use shields and flat lenses to control light distribution. Recreational facility lighting may continue after 11:00 PM only when equipped with automatic timing devices and shielded to minimize light pollution.
San Diego Light Trespass Regulations
Some RestrictionsLooking 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 →