Alameda County, CA Outdoor Lighting: Light Trespass & Shielding (2026)
Key Facts
- Residential limit
- 0.5 foot-candles at line
- Commercial limit
- 1.0 foot-candle typical
- Nuisance law
- Civil Code 3479
- Required
- Shielded, downward-directed
- Motion sensors
- 5-10 minute timers OK
Summary
Alameda County treats light trespass onto neighbors as nuisance under Title 17 and Civil Code 3479. Residential fixtures cannot exceed 0.5 foot-candles at adjacent property lines.
Anything which is injurious to health, including, but not limited to, the illegal sale of controlled substances, or is indecent or offensive to the senses, or an obstruction to the free use of property, so as to interfere with the comfortable enjoyment of life or property, or unlawfully obstructs the free passage or use, in the customary manner, of any navigable lake, or river, bay, stream, canal, or basin, or any public park, square, street, or highway, is a nuisance.
Full Breakdown
Light trespass in Alameda County occurs when outdoor lighting from one property crosses property lines and creates glare, reduces privacy, or interferes with sleep on neighboring properties. Unincorporated county Title 17 and most city zoning codes set maximum illumination limits at property lines, typically 0.5 foot-candles residential and 1.0 foot-candle commercial. Fixtures must be shielded to direct light downward and onto the owner's property only. California Civil Code 3479 defines nuisance broadly to include anything that interferes with the comfortable enjoyment of property, which courts have applied to excessive lighting. Remedies include code enforcement, civil nuisance suits, and injunctions. Common problem fixtures include flood lights aimed horizontally, unshielded LED security lights, and bright landscape uplighting. Motion sensors with 5-10 minute timers typically comply while maintaining security. Document intrusion with photos and foot-candle meter readings before escalation.
Frequently Asked Questions
My neighbor's security light shines into my bedroom. What can I do?
Can I use bright LED security flood lights?
Sources & Official References
Other rules in Alameda County
California rules heatmap·Compare Alameda County to another location·View the California outdoor lighting overview
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