Tracy, CA Outdoor Lighting: Dark Sky Rules (2026)
Key Facts
- Fixture requirement
- Fully shielded, cut-off design
- Pole height limit
- 40 feet maximum
- Applies to
- Multi-unit & mixed-use projects
- Reviewing agency
- Community Development Department
- Governing section
- TMC § 10.10.090(d)
Summary
Outdoor lighting on new multiple-unit and mixed-use housing projects in Tracy must use fully shielded, cut-off fixtures under Municipal Code Section 10.10.090(d). Freestanding light poles are capped at 40 feet, and fixtures must be compatible with the building and site design. The rule is part of the city's Utilitarian Elements design standards, reviewed by Community Development for apartment, condo and mixed-use developments rather than every residential lot citywide.
Lighting. Lighting shall be compatible with building and site design and shall have a forty (40) foot maximum height for a freestanding light pole. Accent lighting shall be used to enhance the appearance of a structure and define open spaces and pathways. Lighting fixtures shall be fully shielded with cut-off fixtures and shall not impact adjacent development or residences.
Official source re-checked September 7, 2026: no newer edition of the code had been published (publisher’s edition: Code of Ordinances: Supplement 69).
Full Breakdown
050(b) it applies to multiple-unit residential and mixed-use development projects in every zoning district, including projects reviewed under the state Housing Accountability Act and SB 423 streamlined ministerial review. Subsection (d) sets three linked requirements for site lighting: fixtures must be visually compatible with the building and overall site design; any freestanding light pole is limited to a 40-foot maximum height; and every fixture must be fully shielded with a cut-off design so light is directed downward rather than spilling outward. ' Accent lighting is treated separately and is meant to highlight architectural features, open space, and pedestrian pathways rather than serve as area illumination.
Because the standard lives in Article 2, it binds new apartment buildings, condominiums, and mixed-use projects subject to plan review, not single-family homeowners installing a porch light or a security fixture on an existing house; those installations fall under the building permit and electrical code process rather than this design standard. 3250.
Violations & Fines
A lighting plan that does not show fully shielded, cut-off fixtures or that proposes a pole taller than 40 feet will be rejected at plan check before a building permit issues. For lighting installed without approval or altered after occupancy, Section 10.08.4900 lets the Community Development Director and authorized staff issue a citation or a stop order suspending further construction or use of the property until the fixtures are corrected, and the City may record a notice of violation against the property under Section 10.08.4905 if the owner does not fix it.
Frequently Asked Questions
Does Tracy require dark-sky shielded lighting for every home?
How tall can a freestanding light pole be on a Tracy apartment site?
What is accent lighting used for under this standard?
Who reviews a project's lighting plan before construction?
Sources & Official References
Other rules in Tracy
California rules heatmap·Compare Tracy to another location·View the California outdoor lighting overview
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How other cities in San Joaquin County handle dark sky rules.