Los Angeles Municipal Code §93.0108 caps new outdoor LED fixtures at 3000K, requires full shielding, and limits trespass to 0.5 foot-candles at residential property lines. The ordinance applies citywide to new installations, replacements, and permitted remodels but exempts pre-existing fixtures and emergency lighting.
Los Angeles Municipal Code §93.0108, added in 2017 and expanded in 2020, regulates outdoor lighting on private property citywide. All new and replacement outdoor luminaires must be fully shielded (zero up-light), and LED color temperature is capped at 3000 Kelvin — one of the few large-city ordinances with this cap. Light trespass onto adjacent residential property may not exceed 0.5 foot-candles measured 3 feet inside the property line. The ordinance interacts with the citywide Bureau of Street Lighting LED retrofit program, which used 4000K LEDs early but has since standardized on 3000K and lower. Hillside and Very High Fire Hazard Severity Zones have additional restrictions on glare-producing fixtures. Commercial sign and billboard lighting is governed by LAMC §14.4 and must dim 50% between 11:00 PM and sunrise. The city is not IDA-certified, but the International Dark-Sky Association has recognized the LAMC §93.0108 amendment as a model for large urban dark-sky regulations.
Initial notice with 30 days to correct. Continuing violations are misdemeanors under LAMC §11.00 carrying fines up to $1,000 and/or 6 months in jail. Most cases resolve as administrative citations of $250–$500 per fixture.
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Side-by-side rule comparisons with other cities in Los Angeles County.
See how other cities in Los Angeles County handle dark sky rules.
See how Los Angeles's dark sky rules rules stack up against other locations.
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