Sunnyvale limits outdoor lighting glare and spill through SMC Title 19 and Title 24 Part 6. Fixtures in residential zones must be shielded and not spill onto adjacent properties.
Sunnyvale is not a formal Dark Sky community, but SMC Title 19 and the statewide Title 24 Part 6 Outdoor Lighting Zones standards apply. Exterior lighting on new and substantially remodeled buildings must use full-cutoff or hooded fixtures, meet backlight-uplight-glare (BUG) ratings, and limit lumens per site based on lighting zone. Residential fixtures should aim downward to avoid casting glare or light trespass onto neighbors' windows. Commercial and industrial sites face stricter curfews that turn off display lighting after close (typically between 10 p.m. and 6 a.m.). Non-compliant lighting reported to Code Enforcement can result in a notice of violation. Holiday and seasonal lighting is generally exempt if limited to a reasonable duration.
Contact your local code enforcement office for specific penalty information.
Sunnyvale, CA
Sunnyvale permits construction noise Monday through Friday from 7 AM to 6 PM and Saturday 8 AM to 5 PM. No construction on Sundays or major holidays without ...
Sunnyvale, CA
Sunnyvale was one of the earliest California cities to ban gas-powered leaf blowers, ahead of statewide AB 1346. Only electric or battery blowers are allowed...
Sunnyvale, CA
Aircraft noise from Moffett Federal Airfield, NASA Ames, and San Jose International is preempted by federal FAA rules. Sunnyvale cannot regulate overflight n...
Sunnyvale, CA
Street parking in Sunnyvale is governed by SMC Title 10 and California Vehicle Code. The 72-hour rule (CVC 22651(k)) applies, and posted permit zones restric...
Sunnyvale, CA
Sunnyvale driveway construction and use are governed by SMC Title 19 zoning and Title 16 encroachment rules. Blocking sidewalks or the public right-of-way is...
Sunnyvale, CA
RVs, trailers, and boats over 6 feet tall or 22 feet long are restricted on Sunnyvale streets under SMC Title 10. Short-term loading is allowed with limits; ...
Side-by-side rule comparisons with other cities in Santa Clara County.
See how other cities in Santa Clara County handle dark sky rules.
See how Sunnyvale's dark sky rules rules stack up against other locations.
Quick Compare
Help us keep this page accurate. If you notice an error or outdated information, let us know.