Monterey County General Plan Policy LU-1.13 requires all exterior lighting to be unobtrusive and located so only the intended area is illuminated, the long-range visibility of the light source is reduced, and off-site glare is fully controlled. The Board of Supervisors adopted Design Guidelines for Exterior Lighting (implemented through Title 21, Chapter 21.63) to protect night-sky views.
Monterey County protects the night sky chiefly through General Plan Policy LU-1.13 and the related Design Guidelines for Exterior Lighting. Policy LU-1.13 requires that all exterior lighting shall be unobtrusive and constructed or located so that only the intended area is illuminated, long-range visibility of the lighting source is reduced, and off-site glare is fully controlled. Title 21, Chapter 21.63 (Design Guidelines) authorizes the Board of Supervisors to adopt design guidelines for exterior lighting that establish criteria for the location, direction, number and design of fixtures so that lighting is unobtrusive, reduces off-site glare, and lights only the intended area. These guidelines are intended to preserve the county's environmental and visual resources, including views of the night sky, sensitive public viewsheds and natural landscapes, and they address energy efficiency and best management practices. In practice, county planners apply LU-1.13 during project review - for example, requiring warm-LED, downlit, International Dark-Sky Association-compliant fixtures in visually sensitive areas. Monterey County does not impose a single numeric lumen cap countywide; compliance is determined through these design standards and project-specific conditions.
Exterior lighting that causes off-site glare, illuminates beyond the intended area, or is visible at long range can be flagged during planning review or as a code-enforcement issue, and the county may condition or require modification of non-compliant fixtures.
Other ordinances people look up for this city. Green dot = verified primary-source excerpt.
Monterey, CA
Persistent dog barking in the City of Monterey is enforced under the noise ordinance and animal provisions as a disturbance; chronic barking that disturbs ne...
Monterey, CA
Construction noise in the City of Monterey is limited to daytime hours under the noise ordinance — typically 7 a.m.–7 p.m. weekdays with reduced weekend hour...
Monterey, CA
The City of Monterey regulates noise through its municipal code, prohibiting loud and disturbing noise with stricter nighttime limits (generally 10 p.m.–7 a....
Monterey, CA
Driveway approaches in the City of Monterey require an encroachment permit and must meet city standards; vehicles generally must be parked on an approved pav...
Monterey, CA
RV, trailer and boat storage on residential lots in the City of Monterey is regulated by zoning, which restricts placement and prohibits living in a parked RV.
Monterey, CA
On-street parking in the City of Monterey is governed by the vehicle code, with extensive metered and time-limited zones downtown and near the wharf, plus 72...
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