Dark Sky Rules: Petaluma vs Rohnert Park
How do dark sky rules rules compare between Petaluma, CA and Rohnert Park, CA?
Petaluma and Rohnert Park have similar restriction levels.
Petaluma, CA
Sonoma County
Petaluma IZO §21.040 includes standards prohibiting glare and light trespass onto adjacent properties. Outdoor lighting must be shielded and directed downward.
View full Petaluma rules →Rohnert Park, CA
Sonoma County
Unincorporated Sonoma County has no single countywide dark-sky ordinance for all properties, but its Zoning Regulations (Chapter 26) require fully shielded, downward-cast lighting for many uses. For example, ADU and certain special-use standards require fully shielded, downward-facing fixtures and prohibit floodlights and uplights.
View full Rohnert Park rules →Key Facts Comparison
| Fact | Petaluma | Rohnert Park |
|---|---|---|
| Standard | Shielded, downward-directed | - |
| Code | Petaluma IZO §21.040 | - |
| State Reference | Title 24 | - |
| Countywide dark-sky ordinance | - | No single all-parcel ordinance; standards are use-specific |
| Core standard | - | Fully shielded, downward-cast lighting in many Article 88 uses |
| Prohibited (regulated uses) | - | Floodlights and uplights |
| Solar glare standard | - | Sec. 26-88-206 - no glare directed at structures, roads, airports |
| Design review | - | Article 82 (Sec. 26-82-050) evaluates lighting/glare |
Highlighted rows indicate differences between cities.
Petaluma FAQ
Can I install motion-sensor floods?
Yes — but they must be shielded to avoid light trespass on neighbors.
Rohnert Park FAQ
Does Sonoma County have a dark-sky lighting law?
Not a single ordinance covering every property. Instead, the Zoning Regulations require fully shielded, downward-cast lighting for many specific uses (such as ADUs and certain special uses) and evaluate lighting glare through design review.
Are floodlights allowed in unincorporated Sonoma County?
For projects subject to the County's lighting standards, floodlights and uplights are prohibited and fixtures must be fully shielded and downward-facing. For ordinary homes, glare onto neighbors is addressed through nuisance and design-review provisions.
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