Alhambra, CA Outdoor Lighting: Light Trespass (2026)

Light trespass - unwanted light spilling from one property onto a neighbor's - is regulated in the City of Alhambra under Section 23.12.090 of the Zoning Code (Chapter 23.12, General Site Regulations). The section requires that all lights be directed, oriented, and shielded to prevent light trespass or glare onto adjacent properties, and it sets a measurable performance standard: the light level at the property line may not exceed 0.3 foot-candles. This gives the City an objective basis for evaluating complaints about overly bright or poorly aimed lighting from commercial sites, parking lots, multifamily buildings, and other developments adjacent to homes. The standard is applied primarily through the City's development-review processes - new and modified projects must show that fixtures are shielded, aimed downward, and contained on-site. For existing lighting that spills onto neighbors, the same shielding and 0.3 foot-candle requirement provides the standard that code enforcement can reference. Because the lighting provisions were updated through recent zoning ordinances (4823, 4831, and 4844), property owners should consult the current code text and the Planning Division for exact measurement methods and any zone-specific differences. Residents troubled by a neighbor's lighting should document the spillover and contact Code Enforcement, which can evaluate whether the lighting violates the shielding and property-line illumination standards of Section 23.12.090.