San Diego, CA Outdoor Lighting: Dark Sky Rules (2026)
Key Facts
- CCT cap
- 4000K citywide
- Curfew
- 11pm-6am, most fixtures
- Observatory zone cap
- 2500K / 4,050 lumens
- Zone radius
- 30 miles of Palomar, Mt. Laguna
Summary
San Diego caps most outdoor lighting at 4000 Kelvin color temperature and requires it off between 11 p.m. and 6 a.m., with a stricter 2500 Kelvin/4,050-lumen cap near the Palomar and Mount Laguna observatories.
(4) Outdoor lighting shall not exceed nominal 4000 Kelvin Color Correlated Temperature (CCT).
(5) All outdoor lighting, including search lights, shall be turned off between 11:00 P.M. and 6:00 A.M. except:
(A) Outdoor lighting may remain lighted for commercial and industrial uses that continue to be fully operational after 11:00 P.M. such as sales, assembly, and repair; and for security purposes or to illuminate walkways, roadways, equipment yards, and parking lots subject to the following:
(i) Adequate lighting for public safety shall be maintained. Outdoor lighting shall otherwise be reduced after 11:00 P.M. where practicable.
(ii) Within 30 miles of the Palomar and Mount Laguna observatories, outdoor lighting after 11:00 P.M. shall be limited to a maximum of 4,050 lumens per fixture or a maximum of 2500 Kelvin CCT.
(B) Outdoor lighting for the following is permitted to remain
Full Breakdown
Section 142.0740(c)(4)-(5) of the San Diego Municipal Code sets a nominal 4000 Kelvin CCT ceiling on outdoor fixtures and a citywide dark-sky curfew: lighting must switch off from 11 p.m. to 6 a.m. except for active commercial/industrial operations, security lighting, ATMs, illuminated signs during business hours, and the U.S. flag. Within 30 miles of the Palomar and Mount Laguna observatories, any lighting kept on past 11 p.m. is further limited to 4,050 lumens per fixture or 2500 Kelvin CCT to protect astronomical research from urban sky glow.
Violations & Fines
Enforced by the City's Development Services Department through the zoning and electrical permit process; a nonconforming fixture can be cited as a code violation and the owner ordered to retrofit or shield it.
Frequently Asked Questions
Does San Diego limit how bright or blue outdoor lights can be?
What time do outdoor lights have to turn off in San Diego?
Sources & Official References
Other rules in San Diego
California rules heatmap·Compare San Diego to another location·View the California outdoor lighting overview
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Dark Sky Rules in Nearby Cities
How other cities in San Diego County handle dark sky rules.