Outdoor Lighting in San Luis Obispo County, CA (2026)
3 rules for unincorporated San Luis Obispo County, California.
Verified from official government sources
Dark Sky Rules
San Luis Obispo County requires every outdoor night-lighting fixture installed since 1994 to be shielded from above so the light source itself is not visible off-site, protecting neighbors and dark skies without requiring a land use permit.
SLO County Outdoor Lighting Shielding Rule
Some RestrictionsSan Luis Obispo County Code § 22.10.060(D)
D.Light sources to be shielded.1.Ground illuminating lights. Any light source used for ground area illumination except light produced directly by the combustion of natural gas or other fuels, shall be shielded from above in such a manner that the edge of the shield is level with or below the lowest edge of the light source. Where any light source intended for ground illumination is located at a...
Light Trespass & Shielding
County code bars outdoor lighting from being aimed at neighboring dwellings or public streets and separately prohibits glare intense enough to bother neighboring properties, giving residents a direct standard to cite against a neighbor's floodlights.
SLO County Light-Trespass Rule for Outdoor Fixtures
Some RestrictionsSan Luis Obispo County Code § 22.10.060(B)-(C)
B.Light directed onto lot. Light sources shall be designed and adjusted to direct light away from any road or street, and away from any dwelling outside the ownership of the applicant.C.Minimization of light intensity. No light or glare shall be transmitted or reflected in a concentration or intensity that is detrimental or harmful to persons, or that interferes with the use of surrounding prop...
Billboard Lighting
San Luis Obispo County does not regulate billboard lighting because it bans the structures themselves. Land Use Ordinance Sec. 22.20.040(C)(6) prohibits any permanent billboard adjacent to an Interstate or State highway that carries advertising leased to someone other than the site operator, so no lit billboard can be permitted anywhere in the unincorporated county.
SLO County Bans Billboards Outright
Heavy RestrictionsSan Luis Obispo County Code § 22.20.040(C)(6)
Billboards. Any permanent sign structure that is located adjacent to an Interstate or State highway, typically constructed of steel, concrete or wood that is freestanding or attached to the side of another structure that contains an advertising space that is leased, rented, or donated to advertisers other than the operator of the billboard, shall be prohibited.
All San Luis Obispo County ordinances
See every category we cover for San Luis Obispo County: parking, noise, fences, fires, animals, pools, and more.
San Luis Obispo County Ordinance Hub →