Lake Elsinore's lighting standard in LEMC 17.112.040 requires outdoor fixtures over 60 watts to be shielded to prevent illumination above the horizontal plane. Because of the city's proximity to Mount Palomar Observatory, low-pressure sodium lighting is encouraged, though the city has not adopted a full mandatory dark-sky regime.
Lake Elsinore addresses dark-sky concerns through LEMC 17.112.040, in the nonresidential development standards. It requires all outdoor lighting fixtures over 60 watts to be oriented and shielded to prevent direct illumination above the horizontal plane passing through the luminaire, and to prevent glare or direct illumination on adjacent properties or streets. Due to the city's proximity to the Mount Palomar Observatory, low-pressure sodium lighting shall be encouraged. This is an encouragement, not a mandate; Lake Elsinore has not codified the full Mount Palomar lighting regime that Riverside County applies through Ordinance 655 in unincorporated areas, which governs county land, not the incorporated city. The shielding requirement applies to nonresidential development reviewed under Title 17.
Nonresidential lighting that is unshielded, casts light above the horizontal plane, or throws glare onto neighboring properties or streets violates LEMC 17.112.040. It is enforced through design review and Lake Elsinore Code Enforcement under LEMC Chapter 1.16.
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Side-by-side rule comparisons with other cities in Riverside County.
See how other cities in Riverside County handle dark sky rules.
See how Lake Elsinore's dark sky rules rules stack up against other locations.
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