San Benito County, CA Outdoor Lighting: Dark Sky Rules (2026)
Key Facts
- Floodlighting
- Above-horizontal banned outright
- Zones
- 3 zones around Fremont Peak, Pinnacles
- Home lighting
- 1,000+ lumens must be shielded
- Scope
- Unincorporated county only
Summary
Unincorporated San Benito County regulates outdoor lighting near Fremont Peak and Pinnacles to protect night-sky visibility, banning upward floodlighting outright and requiring shielded fixtures across three lighting zones.
(A) Outdoor floodlighting by flood light projection above the horizontal plane is prohibited. (B) All light fixtures that are required to be shielded shall be installed in such a manner that the shielding is effective... (C) All light fixtures, except streetlights, shall be located, aimed or shielded so as to minimize stray light trespassing across property boundaries.
Official source re-checked September 7, 2026: no newer edition of the code had been published (publisher’s edition: 2025 S-28: current through Ordinance 1078).
Full Breakdown
San Benito County Code § 19.31.006 regulates outdoor lighting in unincorporated San Benito County to curb light pollution near the Fremont Peak State Park observatory and Pinnacles National Park's stargazing programs. It bans flood-light projection above the horizontal plane outright, requires shielded fixtures to actually function as shielded, and requires all fixtures except streetlights to be aimed or shielded to minimize light trespassing across property lines. Three lighting zones under § 19.31.005 apply stricter lumen and shielding limits closer to Fremont Peak and Pinnacles; single-family homes must fully shield any fixture rated 1,000 lumens or more. Applies only in the unincorporated county; Hollister and San Juan Bautista set their own lighting rules.
Violations & Fines
Installing prohibited upward floodlighting or an unshielded fixture above the zone's lumen limit violates Chapter 19.31 and is enforced through the county's zoning and code enforcement process.
Frequently Asked Questions
Why does San Benito County regulate outdoor lighting?
Do I need to shield my porch light?
Sources & Official References
Other rules in San Benito County
California rules heatmap·Compare San Benito County to another location·View the California outdoor lighting overview
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