Light Trespass: Martinez vs San Ramon

Martinez regulates exterior residential lighting to prevent glare, light trespass, and excessive illumination onto neighboring properties. Exterior fixtures should be shielded and directed downward; overly bright security lighting or unshielded floodlights that spill onto adjacent lots may constitute a nuisance subject to code enforcement.

San Ramon Development Code limits light glare and spillover from private lighting onto neighboring properties and public rights-of-way. Typical standards require illumination at property lines not to exceed 0.5–1.0 foot-candles for residential-adjacent properties, with full-cutoff fixtures required to prevent direct view of light sources from off-site. Violations are handled through code enforcement and may also give rise to civil nuisance claims. Security lighting is allowed but must be shielded and ideally motion-activated.