Outdoor Lighting in Santa Rosa, CA (2026)
2 verified outdoor lighting rules for Santa Rosa, California, sourced directly from the municipal code and official government pages.
Verified from official government sources
Dark Sky Rules
Santa Rosa caps outdoor light standards by land use, from 14 feet for multi-family sites to 17 feet for single-family lots, and Section 20-30.080 of the Zoning Code requires every fixture to use energy-efficient lamps and be shielded so the bulb itself is never visible off-site.
Santa Rosa Outdoor Lighting Shielding Rules
Some RestrictionsSanta Rosa City Code § 20-30.080(A), (B), (F)
A. The following maximum heights shall be adhered to for outdoor light standards based on land use type: 1. Single-Family Residential—17 feet. 2. Multi-Family Residential—14 feet. 3. Business and Light Industrial Parks—16 feet. 4. Retail Centers and Commercial Districts—16 feet. B. Outdoor lighting shall utilize energy-efficient fixtures/lamps. Examples of energy efficient fixtures/lamps includ...
Light Trespass & Shielding
Section 20-30.080(E) of Santa Rosa's Zoning Code caps light spilling onto a neighboring residential lot at one footcandle, and Subsection D requires every fixture to be shielded and aimed downward and away from adjoining properties so the bulb itself is never visible off-site.
Santa Rosa Light Trespass Onto Neighbors
Some RestrictionsSanta Rosa City Code § 20-30.080(D), (E)
D. Lighting fixtures shall be shielded or recessed to reduce light bleed to adjoining properties, by: 1. Ensuring that the light source (e.g., bulb, etc.) is not visible from off the site; and 2. Confining glare and reflections within the boundaries of the site to the maximum extent feasible. Each light fixture shall be directed downward and away from adjoining properties and public rights-of-w...
Looking for Sonoma County county-wide rules?
County ordinances apply to unincorporated areas and may supplement Santa Rosa city rules.
Outdoor Lighting in Sonoma County →