Lassen County, CA Outdoor Lighting: Dark Sky Rules (2026)

A review of Lassen County's Title 18 Zoning Code did not turn up a dark-sky lighting chapter or a county-wide outdoor-lighting ordinance requiring full-cutoff/shielded fixtures, color-temperature limits, or curfews on lighting - the kind of provisions adopted by some other California jurisdictions. In other words, there does not appear to be a Lassen County dark-sky ordinance on the books; this is an honest 'no specific local rule' finding rather than a quoted standard. As a result, outdoor lighting on unincorporated parcels is governed mainly by general zoning standards for particular uses (for example, conditions of approval attached to a use permit for commercial or industrial projects), by the building/electrical code for installation safety, and by general nuisance principles. Excessive glare or light spilling onto a neighbor's property can still be addressed as a nuisance even without a numeric lighting standard. Property owners interested in preserving the area's exceptionally dark night skies are encouraged to voluntarily use shielded, downward-directed fixtures and warm color temperatures. Because the county can attach project-specific lighting conditions and may adopt standards over time, confirm any current outdoor-lighting requirements - especially for new commercial development - with Lassen County Planning and Building Services.