Santa Maria, CA Outdoor Lighting: Dark Sky Rules (2026)
Key Facts
- Shielding requirement
- No direct line to any residential parcel
- Height near residential
- Max 20 ft within 50 ft of residential use
- Residential-abutting cap
- 0.50 foot-candles at property line
- Non-residential-abutting cap
- 2.00 foot-candles at property line
- Reflective glass cap
- 20% of street-visible building surface
Summary
Santa Maria requires outdoor lighting on mixed-use developments to be shielded so no direct beam reaches a residentially zoned or residentially developed parcel under SMMC Section 12-49.09(a)(2). Fixtures within 50 feet of a residential district or residential lot line may stand no higher than 20 feet, and site lighting is capped at 0.50 foot-candles at a residential-abutting property line.
Outdoor lighting. Outdoor lighting shall be shielded in a manner that prevents a direct line between its luminary and any residentially zoned, planned, or developed parcel. Within 50 feet of a residential zoning district or within 50 feet of the lot line of a lot containing a residential use, lighting shall be installed no higher than 20 feet above the ground directly below the light fixture. Outdoor lighting shall not exceed the following levels: (A) 0.50 foot-candles at the property line if the subject property abuts a residential zoning district or a lot containing a residential use. (B) 2.00 foot-candles at the property line if the subject property abuts a non-residential zoning district or lot containing only non-residential uses.
Official source re-checked September 7, 2026: no newer edition of the code had been published (publisher’s edition: rev 4818069; v9 updated 2026-04-07).
Full Breakdown
09 sets the performance standards that apply to every mixed-use development in Santa Maria, and its glare and lighting subsection governs outdoor fixtures. Outdoor lighting must be shielded so there is no direct line of sight between the light source and any residentially zoned, planned, or developed parcel. Within 50 feet of a residential zoning district, or within 50 feet of the lot line of a lot holding a residential use, fixtures cannot be mounted higher than 20 feet above the ground directly beneath them.
00 foot-candle ceiling where the site instead abuts non-residential zoning or non-residential uses only. The same performance-standards section separately limits reflective glass, capping mirrored or highly reflective building surfaces visible from a street at 20 percent unless the applicant shows the Zoning Administrator that the glass will not meaningfully add glare or create a vehicle hazard. ) and hours-of-operation restrictions, reflecting the chapter's overall intent to buffer residential units that sit above or beside commercial space in the same building or project.
Violations & Fines
Section 12-49.09 is a mandatory development standard applied at project review and building permit stages for mixed-use projects, so a design that exceeds the 20-foot mounting height near residential parcels or the 0.50 foot-candle residential-abutting cap does not receive Community Development Department sign-off. Projects approved through a Conditional Use Permit or Planned Development Permit can be conditioned on post-construction light readings, and a fixture installed out of compliance is subject to code enforcement correction as a violation of the approved development standards.
Frequently Asked Questions
How bright can outdoor lighting be next to a residential area in Santa Maria?
How tall can a light pole be near homes in a mixed-use project?
Does this lighting rule apply citywide or just to certain projects?
Sources & Official References
Other rules in Santa Maria
California rules heatmap·Compare Santa Maria to another location·View the California outdoor lighting overview
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