Los Banos, CA Outdoor Lighting: Dark Sky Rules (2026)
Key Facts
- Walkway pole height cap
- 20 feet, ground-mounted
- Building luminance cap
- 10 foot-candles maximum
- Approved bulb types
- Metal halide, LED, HPS, CFL, incandescent
- Fixtures per pole
- 2 max, except sports lighting
- Non-essential lights off
- 1 hour after close of business
- Recreational lighting curfew
- 11:00 p.m. hard stop
Summary
Los Banos requires all outdoor light fixtures to be "fully shielded" so no light escapes above the horizontal plane, caps ground-mounted walkway lights at 20 feet, limits building luminance to 10 foot-candles, and restricts bulb types to a defined list under its Article 33 design standards.
Fully shielded lights.Outdoor light fixtures shielded or constructed so that no light rays are emitted by the installed fixture at angles above the horizontal plane as certified by a photometric test report. ... Maximum Height. The maximum height of ground-mounted luminaires for pedestrian walkways may not exceed twenty (20′) feet, unless exempted. ... Light from Buildings. Luminance levels shall not exceed 10 foot-candles measured as initial horizontal luminance, except as otherwise permitted herein. ... Light Source Requirements. All outdoor light fixtures should utilize one of the following bulb types: metal halide, induction lamp, compact fluorescent, incandescent (including tungsten-halogen), high-pressure sodium and LED.
Official source re-checked September 7, 2026: no newer edition of the code had been published (publisher’s edition: rev 4356507; v3 updated 2025-03-05).
Full Breakdown
3308(b) requires every lamp's illumination to be fully shielded from view from adjacent properties and public rights-of-way. 3308(c), tested after 100 hours of lamp operation. 3308(e) are limited to metal halide, induction lamp, compact fluorescent, incandescent (including tungsten-halogen), high-pressure sodium and LED, with any other source requiring sign-off from the approving body. 3308(g)). 3303), and where practicable fixtures must use timers, sensors or photocells. except to finish a game already underway. 3313).
Violations & Fines
A violation of Article 33's lighting standards is a civil infraction under § 9-3.3317, with each day of noncompliance a separate offense. After the Code Enforcement Officer's written 30-day abatement notice, an uncorrected fixture can draw a civil penalty of $50 to $1,000 per violation for an individual, or up to $10,000 for a corporation, and the City can also seek a court injunction to force compliance.
Frequently Asked Questions
Does Los Banos require shielded outdoor light fixtures?
How tall can a parking-lot or walkway light pole be?
What light bulbs are allowed for outdoor fixtures in Los Banos?
Is there a curfew for sports field or recreation lighting?
Sources & Official References
Other rules in Los Banos
California rules heatmap·Compare Los Banos to another location·View the California outdoor lighting overview
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