Outdoor Lighting in San Francisco, CA (2026)
1 verified outdoor lighting rules for San Francisco, California, sourced directly from the municipal code and official government pages.
Verified from official government sources
Dark Sky Rules
San Francisco requires shielded, minimal outdoor lighting with no uplighting on buildings near Urban Bird Refuges under the Planning Code's bird-safe building standards, aimed at cutting light spill that disorients migrating birds.
San Francisco Outdoor Lighting Shielding Near Bird Refuges
Some RestrictionsSan Francisco, CA, Planning Code § 139(c)(1)(B) (Standards for Bird-Safe Buildings — Lighting)
Lighting. Minimal lighting shall be used. Lighting shall be shielded. No uplighting shall be used. Event searchlights are prohibited on property subject to these controls. (C) Wind Generation. Wind generators in this area shall comply with the Planning Department's permitting requirements, including any monitoring of wildlife impacts that the Department may require. (2) Featu...