Long Beach, CA Outdoor Lighting: Dark Sky Rules (2026)
Key Facts
- Governing section
- LBMC § 22.30.110.A
- Scope
- Zones established under Title 22 only
- Standard referenced
- IES and International Dark Sky Association (IDA)
- Adopting ordinance
- ORD-24-0015 (Oct. 1, 2024)
- Gap-fill rule
- Title 21 applies where Title 22 is silent
Summary
In zones established under the City's Title 22 Transitional Zoning Code, corridor and activity-node areas outside the Coastal Zone, Long Beach Municipal Code § 22.30.110.A requires all lighting to meet Illuminating Engineering Society (IES) and International Dark Sky Association (IDA) standards to prevent over-lighting of structures and spaces.
In addition to the following standards, all lighting shall be consistent with Illuminating Engineering Society of North America (IES) and International Dark Sky Association (IDA) standards to prevent over-lighting of structures and spaces.
Official source re-checked September 7, 2026: no newer edition of the code had been published (publisher’s edition: Municipal Code: Supplement 52 Update 1 | City Charter: Supplement 5).
Full Breakdown
30 (Development Standards) of Title 22, the Transitional Zoning Code the City adopted by ORD-24-0015 in October 2024 to phase Title 21's zoning regulations into a new Title 22 for designated corridor and activity-node zones outside the Coastal Zone. 080) fills the gap. ' The rest of the section builds pedestrian-safety lighting on top of that baseline, subsection B requires public-realm pedestrian lighting along curb ramps, crosswalks, bus stops, plazas, paseos, and parking areas to keep those spaces usable and visible at night, and subsection C requires building-mounted lighting matched to the structure's design along pedestrian ways, mid-block connections, and parking structure entryways and lobbies.
110 for additional standards, directing that fixtures in parking areas, ingress/egress points, and internal circulation areas be shielded so they do not illuminate surrounding properties while still providing visibility for users.
Violations & Fines
Lighting installed in a Title 22 zone that over-lights structures and spaces in disregard of the IES/IDA standard in § 22.30.110.A is out of compliance with a development standard reviewed as part of site plan and building permit approval for projects in those zones; outside Title 22 zones, § 21.10.080's general zoning penalty provisions apply instead under the Title 22 gap-filling rule in § 22.10.010.
Frequently Asked Questions
Does Long Beach have a citywide dark-sky ordinance?
What lighting standards does Long Beach reference for dark-sky compliance?
Why did Long Beach create a separate Title 22?
Sources & Official References
Other rules in Long Beach
California rules heatmap·Compare Long Beach to another location·View the California outdoor lighting overview
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