Unincorporated Orange County does not have a dedicated dark sky ordinance. General outdoor lighting standards are addressed through the Orange County Zoning Code development standards and the California Building Energy Efficiency Standards (Title 24). Lighting for new development must comply with glare and light spillage provisions in project-specific conditions of approval.
Unlike some rural California counties (Mono, Humboldt, Riverside mountain areas), Orange County has not adopted a standalone dark sky ordinance for its unincorporated communities. However, outdoor lighting for new development and remodels is regulated through several mechanisms: the Orange County Zoning Code includes development standards that may address exterior lighting as part of site plan review and conditions of approval; California Title 24 Part 6 (Building Energy Efficiency Standards) sets maximum wattage and efficiency requirements for outdoor lighting; and specific plans (Coto de Caza, Foothill/Trabuco, Newport Coast) may include community-specific lighting standards. The County's canyon and hillside communities (Silverado, Modjeska, Santiago Canyon) have informally advocated for dark sky protections, but no formal countywide ordinance has been adopted. New commercial and residential projects typically receive conditions of approval requiring shielded fixtures and downward-directed lighting to minimize glare on adjacent properties.
Lighting that creates a nuisance for neighboring properties may be addressed through general nuisance provisions under OCCO Title 3. Non-compliance with project conditions of approval regarding lighting can result in code enforcement action by OC Development Services.
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