Outdoor Lighting in Santa Ana, CA (2026)
2 verified outdoor lighting rules for Santa Ana, California, sourced directly from the municipal code and official government pages.
Verified from official government sources
Light Trespass & Shielding
Electronic message displays approved through Santa Ana's Regional Planned Sign Program can't sit within 300 feet of residential property and must be oriented to minimize light spilling onto homes while still reading from the freeway. The same 0.3 foot-candle brightness cap and automatic-dimming duty that governs freeway billboards applies here too, under Section 41-885(e).
Santa Ana Electronic Sign Light Trespass Limits
Some RestrictionsSanta Ana, CA, Municipal Code § 41-885(e)
(e)Electronic message displays may be permitted in regional planned sign programs subject to the following conditions:1.Any electronic message displays may not be located within three hundred (300) feet of property zoned or used for residential purposes, as measured from the face of the electronic message display to the nearest property line of the residential property. The display(s) shall com...
Billboard Lighting
Santa Ana caps every digital billboard's brightness at 0.3 foot-candles over ambient light and requires a photocell or light sensor to auto-adjust it -- manual timer- or calendar-based dimming is allowed only as a backup. The rule sits in the billboard-specific lighting article, separate from the city's on-premise electronic sign standards, and applies citywide.
Santa Ana Digital Billboard Brightness Limits
Some RestrictionsSanta Ana, CA, Municipal Code § 41-1133(a),(b),(e)
(a)Signs shall produce a maximum 0.3 foot-candles over ambient light levels.(b)The display brightness shall be controlled by a photocell or light sensor that adjusts the brightness to the required level based on ambient light conditions without the need for human input. Use of other brightness adjustment methods, such as timer- or calendar-based systems, shall only be used as a backup system.(e...
Looking for Orange County county-wide rules?
County ordinances apply to unincorporated areas and may supplement Santa Ana city rules.
Outdoor Lighting in Orange County →