Outdoor Lighting in Sacramento County, CA (2026)

2 county-level rules, plus city-specific rules for 7 cities in Sacramento County, California.

Verified from official government sources

Note: These county rules apply to unincorporated areas of Sacramento County. If you live within an incorporated city, that city's own rules apply: see the city list below.

Light Trespass & Shielding

New light fixtures in Sacramento County parking lots must be full cut-off, shielded, and aimed downward and away from neighboring and residential properties so no light spills off the site under the zoning code's parking lighting standards.

Sacramento County Parking Lot Light Shielding

Some Restrictions

Sacramento County Zoning Code § 5.9.4.G (Parking Area Lighting)

Lighting shall be constructed with full shielding and/or recessed to reduce light trespass to adjoining properties. Each fixture shall be directed downward and away from adjoining properties and public right-of-way, so that no light fixture directly illuminates an area outside of the site, and the light source is not visible from residential properties. New light fixtures, serving uncovered par...

Full ordinance details →Official source ↗

Billboard Lighting

Digital billboards in unincorporated Sacramento County cannot exceed 0.3 foot-candles of illuminance above ambient light, or 7,500 nits of luminance by day and 300 nits at night, and must dim automatically.

Sacramento County Digital Billboard Lighting Cap

Some Restrictions

Sacramento County Zoning Code § 5.10.1.N (Digital Billboards — Illumination/Luminance)

Signs shall not be illuminated at more than 0.3 foot-candles above ambient light, as measured using a foot candle meter at a distance of 250 feet from the sign face. Each display must have a light sensing device that will adjust the illuminance of the sign as ambient light conditions change. Luminance. Through LED technology, digital billboards directly emit light, or luminance, the intensity ...

Full ordinance details →Official source ↗