San Clemente requires exterior lighting to be shielded or recessed and directed downward under SCMC 17.24.130. Lighting must be energy-efficient, may not blink or flash, and may not be of unusually high intensity or brightness.
SCMC 17.24.130 sets the citywide exterior-lighting standard. It requires that exterior lighting be energy-efficient and shielded or recessed so that direct glare and reflections are contained within the boundaries of the parcel, and be directed downward and away from adjoining properties and public rights-of-way. No lighting may blink, flash, or be of unusually high intensity or brightness. All lighting fixtures must be appropriate in scale, intensity, and height to the use, and security lighting is required at all entrances and exits. While the code does not use the term dark-sky, the shielded, downward-directed, glare-contained requirements function as a dark-sky-style standard that limits skyglow and glare across the city.
Unshielded, upward, blinking, or unusually bright fixtures visible off the parcel violate SCMC 17.24.130.
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Side-by-side rule comparisons with other cities in Orange County.
See how other cities in Orange County handle dark sky rules.
See how San Clemente's dark sky rules rules stack up against other locations.
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