Ventura County, CA Outdoor Lighting: Dark Sky Rules (2026)
Key Facts
- Max lumens (standard fixture)
- 850 per luminaire
- Max color temperature
- 3,000 Kelvin
- Curfew
- Off by 10 p.m.
- Applies only to
- DKS overlay-zoned parcels
Summary
Inside Ventura County's Dark Sky Overlay Zone, outdoor light fixtures installed after November 2018 must be fully shielded, capped at 3,000 Kelvin and 850 lumens, and largely switched off after 10 p.m.
a.Shielding and Direction of Luminaires: All outdoor luminaires shall be fully shielded, directed downward, and installed and maintained in such a manner to avoid light trespass beyond the lot line in excess of those amounts set forth in subsection (i) below. Lights at building entrances, such as porch lights and under-eave lights, may be partially shielded.
Official source re-checked September 7, 2026: no newer edition of the code had been published (publisher’s edition: Code of Ordinances: Supplement 51).
Full Breakdown
Parcels carrying the DKS overlay suffix on the zoning map must comply with Section 8109-4.7.4's General Standards: all outdoor luminaires must be fully shielded and directed downward, color temperature is capped at 3,000 Kelvin, most fixtures may not exceed 850 lumens (security lighting up to 2,600), and non-essential lighting must shut off by 10 p.m. or at close of business until sunrise. The overlay applies only to DKS-zoned unincorporated parcels, not the ten incorporated cities or land outside the overlay.
Violations & Fines
A luminaire installed or replaced after November 1, 2018 that isn't shielded, exceeds the lumen or Kelvin caps, or stays lit past curfew is a zoning violation; fixtures already in place as of that date had until November 1, 2019 to come into compliance.
Frequently Asked Questions
Does the Dark Sky rule apply to all of unincorporated Ventura County?
Are security lights exempt from the brightness cap?
Sources & Official References
Other rules in Ventura County
California rules heatmap·Compare Ventura County to another location·View the California outdoor lighting overview
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