Del Norte County, CA Outdoor Lighting: Dark Sky Rules (2026)

A review of the County's published zoning ordinances and the Coastal Land Use Plan and Zoning Ordinance did not turn up a dedicated dark-sky or outdoor-lighting chapter. The County does not appear to mandate full-cutoff fixtures, color temperature limits, or curfew hours for private lighting countywide. Instead, exterior lighting is typically evaluated during discretionary project review (for example, conditions on use permits or coastal development permits) and through general nuisance and neighbor-protection principles. In the Coastal Zone, the Local Coastal Program and Title 21 govern development, and lighting that affects scenic or coastal resources can be conditioned through the coastal development permit process. Because Del Norte is a rural redwood-coast county with significant dark-night-sky character near state and national parklands, residents installing exterior lighting should still aim fixtures downward, shield them, and avoid casting light or glare onto neighboring properties or sensitive habitat. For any project requiring planning approval, ask the Planning Division (707-464-7254) whether lighting conditions will apply. If no county standard applies to your project, the controlling limit is the general prohibition on creating a nuisance for neighbors.