San Bernardino County, CA Outdoor Lighting: Billboard Lighting (2026)
Key Facts
- Governing rule
- § 83.13.060(a)(11) incorporates § 83.07.040
- Valley light-trespass cap
- 0.5 foot-candle at property line
- Mountain/desert light-trespass cap
- 0.1 foot-candle
- Dark-sky curfew (mtn/desert)
- 11:00 p.m. unless exempt
- Color temperature limit
- 3,000 Kelvin or less
Summary
Off-site sign (billboard) illumination in unincorporated San Bernardino County must comply with the county's outdoor lighting chapter, including mountain/desert dark-sky curfews where applicable.
(11) Illumination. Lighting of off-site signs shall comply with § 83.07.040 (Glare and Outdoor Lighting Mountain and Desert Regions).
Full Breakdown
Development Code § 83.13.060(a)(11) sends billboard lighting straight to Chapter 83.07's outdoor lighting standards. Under § 83.07.040, valley-region billboards follow § 83.07.050's five-tenths foot-candle trespass cap, while billboards in the mountain and desert regions follow § 83.07.060: full shielding, a 3,000 Kelvin color-temperature ceiling, and an 11:00 p.m. dark-sky curfew unless the fixture is exempt lighting under a valid land use entitlement. Blinking or flashing illumination is barred outright.
Violations & Fines
Enforced under § 83.07.090 as a Development Code violation; non-shielded or non-curfewed billboard lighting is also grounds for permit conditions or denial under § 83.13.060.
Frequently Asked Questions
Can a billboard in the desert region be lit all night?
Is there a brightness limit for billboard lighting?
Sources & Official References
Other rules in San Bernardino County
California rules heatmap·Compare San Bernardino County to another location·View the California outdoor lighting overview
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