5 county-level rules, plus city-specific rules for 5 cities in Santa Clara County, California.
Verified from official government sources
Santa Clara County protects Lick Observatory dark skies under Division C12. Fixtures within 10 miles of Mt Hamilton must be shielded at 2700 K or below. Other areas need full cutoff to prevent glare.
Santa Clara County Division C12 caps light trespass at 0.5 footcandles at the property line and requires full-cutoff fixtures. Spillover onto neighbors is also actionable as private nuisance under Civil Code 3479.
Outdoor advertising in Santa Clara County must follow Caltrans brightness rules adopted from the federal Highway Beautification Act. Digital displays cannot exceed 0.3 footcandles over ambient at the regulated measurement distance and must dim automatically at night.
Santa Clara County Title C outdoor-lighting standards require full-cutoff shielding on security and area lights to prevent glare and light trespass. The rules align with International Dark-Sky Association practice and limit upward and lateral light beyond property lines.
Decorative holiday and seasonal lighting is broadly exempt from Santa Clara County outdoor-lighting standards from November through early January. Permanent year-round string lighting still must meet shielding, color-temperature, and light-trespass rules under Title C zoning.
5 cities in Santa Clara County have their own outdoor lighting rules. Each link goes to that city's dedicated page with code citations.
5 verified rules • Billboard Lighting, Dark Sky Rules
2 verified rules • Dark Sky Rules, Light Trespass
2 verified rules • Dark Sky Rules, Light Trespass
2 verified rules • Dark Sky Rules, Light Trespass
2 verified rules • Dark Sky Rules, Light Trespass
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