Redlands, CA Outdoor Lighting: Dark Sky Rules (2026)

The City of Redlands does not have a single, comprehensive dark-sky or outdoor-lighting chapter of the kind found in some rural California jurisdictions. Instead, lighting control is handled through district-specific development standards in Title 18 of the Municipal Code and through project-level design review. A clear example is section 18.92.220 (Lighting Facilities) in the C-3 General Commercial District, which requires that lighting facilities 'be arranged in a manner which will protect the highway and neighboring properties from direct glare or hazardous interference of any kind.' Similar glare- and spillover-control standards apply through development review for other zones and for larger projects, where the City can condition approvals to require shielded, downward-directed fixtures so light does not spill onto adjacent properties or the public street. Because Redlands sits near astronomical and natural areas in the Inland Empire and has established residential neighborhoods, applicants for commercial, multifamily, and institutional projects are commonly required to submit photometric (lighting) plans demonstrating that fixtures are shielded and that light at the property line is controlled. Single-family homeowners are not subject to a formal lighting ordinance but remain subject to the nuisance and glare standards. For project lighting requirements, consult the applicable zoning chapter or the Redlands Development Services / Planning Division.