Davis, CA Outdoor Lighting: Dark Sky Rules (2026)

17's findings section states that its purpose is to create standards for outdoor lighting to minimize light pollution, glare, and light trespass caused by inappropriate or misaligned light fixtures, while improving nighttime public safety, utility, and security, and preserving the night sky as a natural resource and thus people's enjoyment of looking at the stars. The article defines a fully shielded fixture as one whose construction does not allow any light dispersion to shine above the horizontal plane from the fixture's lowest light-emitting point, with the shielding permanently affixed to the fixture.

030 requires every qualifying outdoor light fixture installed after the ordinance's effective date on commercial, industrial, or multifamily property, and on public property and rights-of-way, to be fully shielded. Low-pressure sodium lighting cannot be used by itself because of its poor color rendition, though it may be combined with another light source if color rendition is preserved. Fixtures for outdoor recreation facilities such as ball diamonds and tennis courts must also be fully shielded, except where shielding would impair the visibility the sport needs; in that case partially shielded fixtures and directional methods must still limit pollution and glare to a reasonable level, and lighting must be shielded away from roadways to avoid blinding drivers. 050.