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

090(A) sets the Town's baseline outdoor lighting standard for commercial and office development. Lighting may be used only for safety, security, and identification, and the Code flatly prohibits unnecessary lighting in the interest of energy conservation. Light standards and fixtures must be designed to blend architecturally with the buildings, pedestrian areas, and hardscape they serve, and fixtures near the Apple Valley Airport must remain compatible with airport operations. If a business needs supplemental lighting for color rendition, it must run alongside a secondary security-level lighting system that becomes the sole light source once the business closes for the night, rather than leaving full-intensity fixtures burning after hours.

Flashing lights are prohibited outright. The Section also lets flag poles up to 35 feet tall stand anywhere on a lot outside the required front or street side-yard setback, capped at three poles per recorded lot, and any lighting on an illuminated flagpole must be shielded so all glare stays on-site and blends architecturally with the rest of the property's lighting. 090 itself contains no administrative waiver for the functional-use and shielding requirements.