Solano County, CA Outdoor Lighting: Dark Sky Rules (2026)
Key Facts
- Countywide dark-sky ordinance
- None - use-specific standards instead
- Direction
- Downward and inward toward the site
- Shielding (events)
- Lamp/reflector not visible off-site
- General standard
- Directed away from neighbors and roads
- Glare
- None detectable beyond property line/aircraft
Summary
Unincorporated Solano County has no comprehensive countywide dark-sky lighting ordinance. Instead, Chapter 28 imposes shielding and downcast lighting requirements on specific uses - exterior night lighting must be directed downward and inward, shielded, and aimed away from neighbors and roadways to prevent light pollution and glare.
All exterior night lighting shall be directional lighting that directs the light downward and inward toward the project site so as not to create a nuisance to neighbors.
Official source re-checked September 8, 2026: no newer edition of the code had been published (publisher’s edition: current through Ordinance 1868, passed April 9, 2026).
Full Breakdown
Solano County does not have a single, comprehensive dark-sky ordinance for unincorporated areas. Lighting controls instead appear as use-specific performance standards woven through Chapter 28 (Zoning Regulations). ' More broadly, the code's general standards call for lighting capable of providing adequate illumination for security and safety that is directed away from adjacent properties and public rights-of-way to prevent offensive light or glare. The county's performance standards also prohibit glint or glare detectable beyond any property line or by overflying aircraft. Together these rules push toward shielded, downward-directed fixtures that limit skyglow and spillover, the practical goals of dark-sky design, but they are applied through individual project review rather than a uniform lumens-or-Kelvin standard. For project-specific lighting requirements, consult the Planning Division (707-784-6765).
Violations & Fines
Installing unshielded or up-directed exterior lighting that creates glare or a nuisance beyond the property line, or failing to meet project-specific lighting conditions, can result in code-compliance action and required fixture changes.
Frequently Asked Questions
Does Solano County have a dark-sky lighting law?
What lighting standard applies to my project?
Sources & Official References
Other rules in Solano County
California rules heatmap·Compare Solano County to another location·View the California outdoor lighting overview
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