Title 22.140.385 of the LA County Code exempts seasonal holiday lighting from outdoor-lighting brightness, shielding, and dark-sky rules between November 1 and January 15 each year, provided the displays do not create traffic hazards or unreasonable glare.
Title 22.140.385(F) carves out a seasonal exemption for temporary holiday and decorative lighting strung from November 1 through January 15. During that window, residents and businesses in unincorporated LA County may install incandescent or LED string lights, illuminated lawn ornaments, and roof outlines without meeting the standard 0.5 foot-candle property-line cap or full-cutoff shielding rules. The exemption does not waive electrical permit requirements for new permanent circuits, hardwired displays exceeding 600 watts, or fire-code clearance from chimneys and combustibles in Title 32. Displays causing traffic hazards from glare onto adjacent streets remain subject to Sheriff and Code Enforcement intervention. Contract cities follow their own holiday provisions.
Holiday displays remaining lit past January 15 lose the exemption and face standard Title 22.140.385 light-trespass citations. Hardwired installations exceeding 600 watts without electrical permits trigger Building and Safety stop-work orders and fines.
Santa Monica, CA
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Santa Monica, CA
Santa Monica regulates outdoor lighting under SMMC §9.21.080. While not a standalone dark sky ordinance, the city addresses light pollution through zoning st...
Santa Monica, CA
Outdoor lighting in Santa Monica must not create glare or light trespass per SMMC §9.21.080. Violations of lighting standards are enforceable under the prope...
See how Santa Monica's holiday lighting rules rules stack up against other locations.
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