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

The Inyo County General Plan contains a Control of Light and Glare policy, but for years the County Code had no corresponding lighting standards. Following 2018 community workshops and Board direction, the Planning Department drafted an outdoor lighting ordinance (Draft Chapter 18.74), which the Board first discussed on April 12, 2022. Chapter 18.74 'Outdoor Lighting' now appears in the County's codified Title 18, establishing dark-sky standards for the unincorporated area. As reported by Sierra Wave (Eastern Sierra News) covering the proposal, the standards include: outdoor lighting installed to prevent glare, light trespass, and light pollution; unshielded fixtures limited to 100 lumens (about a 10-watt bulb); fixtures up to a maximum 600 lumens (about a 40-watt bulb) required to be partially or totally shielded with an opaque top; and any up-lighting limited to a color temperature no greater than 3,000 kelvin. The ordinance also addresses flags - U.S. and California flags must be taken down at night or be illuminated only within the area of the flag without light trespass - and provides that existing nonconforming fixtures need not be altered, though the County may require a problematic light to be shielded, filtered, redirected, or replaced. Several lighting zones were recommended for different area types (developed parks, rural, urban, special-use). These dark-sky protections reflect Inyo County's location in the Eastern Sierra, near Bortle-class-1 night skies. Property owners should confirm the adopted Chapter 18.74 standards with the Inyo County Planning Department before installing exterior lighting.