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Outdoor Lighting in San Rafael, CA (2026)

1 verified outdoor lighting rules for San Rafael, California, sourced directly from the municipal code and official government pages.

Verified from official government sources

Light Trespass & Shielding

San Rafael caps new outdoor lighting at roughly one foot-candle at doorways, tapering to under one foot-candle at the property line, and requires fixtures to be shielded from spilling onto neighboring lots.

San Rafael Outdoor Lighting Glare Limits

Some Restrictions

San Rafael Municipal Code § 14.16.227(B)-(C)

B.Lighting fixtures shall be appropriately designed and/or shielded to conceal light sources from view off-site and avoid spillover onto adjacent properties.C.The foot-candle intensity of lighting should be the minimum amount necessary to provide a sense of security at building entryways, walkways and parking lots. In general terms, acceptable lighting levels would provide one (1) foot-candle g...

Looking for Marin County county-wide rules?

County ordinances apply to unincorporated areas and may supplement San Rafael city rules.

Outdoor Lighting in Marin County