Santa Clara, CA Outdoor Lighting: Dark Sky Rules (2026)

080 to outdoor lighting citywide. Subsection A states the purpose is to balance safety and security lighting needs against the City's desire to preserve dark skies and keep light trespass and glare negligible on surrounding property, especially residential. Subsection B applies the rule to all new development: whenever a Building Permit, Electrical Permit, or discretionary permit is required, the applicant must submit enough information for the Review Authority to confirm compliance before approval. Subsection D bans search lights, laser-source lights, or similarly high-intensity lights outright except for emergency police or fire use or an approved special event; roof-mounted lighting except for security; and any moving, flashing, or animated fixture.

Subsection E's General Lighting Requirements require every fixture to be directed downward or toward structures and fully shielded, sets a 15-foot maximum pole height for freestanding fixtures on nonresidential land abutting residential development, 25 feet in industrial zoning districts, and 20 feet everywhere else nonresidential, measured from finish grade to the bottom of the fixture lens. 7. 9 if a project cannot meet the standard design.