Berkeley requires shielded outdoor lighting for new development under Title 23 Zoning Ordinance with specific standards to minimize glare, light trespass, and uplight pollution.
Berkeley Municipal Code Title 23 (Zoning) includes outdoor lighting standards requiring all new exterior light fixtures to be fully shielded and directed downward to prevent glare and sky glow. Fixtures must have cutoff optics so no light is emitted above the horizontal plane. Color temperature limits typically cap residential lighting at 3000K warm-white to reduce blue light sky impact. Commercial parking lot illumination is limited to minimum necessary levels with automatic shutoff after business hours. The Green Building and Energy Conservation Codes (Title 24 Part 6) also set maximum outdoor lighting power allowances. Residential security lights must be motion-activated or shielded to avoid spill onto neighboring properties. Berkeley is not an official International Dark Sky community but embraces dark-sky principles in its zoning. Holiday lighting is generally exempt from year-round rules.
Contact your local code enforcement office for specific penalty information.
Berkeley, CA
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Berkeley, CA
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Berkeley, CA
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Berkeley, CA
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Berkeley, CA
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Berkeley, CA
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Side-by-side rule comparisons with other cities in Alameda County.
See how other cities in Alameda County handle dark sky rules.
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