Apple Valley, CA Outdoor Lighting: Dark Sky Rules (2026)

The Town of Apple Valley regulates outdoor lighting to protect its High Desert night skies through its Development Code (Title 9); it does not maintain a separate dark-sky title (Title 10 is Water, Sewers and Utilities). The core standard is Development Code Section 9.70.020(H), Light and Glare: parking-lot security/safety lighting must be projected below the imaginary horizontal plane passing through the lowest point of the fixture and directed away from streets and adjoining properties; flashing lights are prohibited; the intensity of reflected light at the boundary of any multi-family, commercial, or industrial district may not exceed 75 foot lamberts; pole- or structure-mounted parking/security lighting may not exceed 20 feet above the parking surface; and security or accent lighting for single-family residences must be shielded to project downward or away from streets and adjoining properties. The sign code adds Section 9.74.110(E)(1), "Preservation of Night Sky," requiring sign illumination to minimize glare, keeping harsh or unnecessarily bright sign lighting to a minimum, shielding external sign lighting so light does not shine above the top of the sign, and requiring sign illumination to conform to the Town's Lighting Ordinance. Note: a separate "Town Code 10.26 Outdoor Lighting" ordinance circulating online (Ord. O-2020-05) belongs to Apple Valley, Utah (it references the "State of Utah") and does NOT apply to the California town.