Cupertino's dark-sky lighting standards in Municipal Code Chapter 19.102 require all outdoor lighting to be fully shielded, directed downward, and away from adjacent properties. Exterior lighting is capped at 1,600 lumens per fixture and must be extinguished or motion-sensor operated after 11 p.m.
Cupertino adopted Chapter 19.102 (Bird-Safe and Dark Sky / Glass and Lighting Standards) in 2021 to reduce light pollution. Under CMC 19.102.040, all outdoor lighting must be fully shielded fixtures directed downward and aimed away from adjacent properties and rights-of-way to avoid light trespass. Exceptions include low-voltage landscape lighting (10 watts or 150 lumens, not aimed at the right-of-way), architectural uplighting, public art, and historic fixtures. Exterior lighting may not exceed a 100-watt incandescent bulb or LED equivalent, or 1,600 lumens, whichever is less. It must be fully extinguished or motion-sensor operated after 11:00 p.m. or when people are no longer present. The standards apply whenever exterior lighting is added or replaced.
Unshielded, over-bright, or after-hours lighting that violates Chapter 19.102 can trigger correction notices and orders to reshield, reduce, or extinguish the lighting.
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