Solano County, CA Outdoor Lighting: Light Trespass & Shielding (2026)
Key Facts
- Standalone trespass limit
- No numeric footcandle limit at lot line
- Direction
- Away from adjacent properties and rights-of-way
- Glare
- None detectable beyond property line
- Residential protection
- Must not disturb abutting residential district
- Enforcement
- Nuisance / code-compliance basis
Summary
Unincorporated Solano County controls light trespass through Chapter 28 performance standards. Exterior lighting must be directed away from adjacent properties and public rights-of-way to prevent offensive light or glare, and no glint or glare may be detectable beyond any property line or by overflying aircraft.
Lighting capable of providing adequate illumination for security and safety and directed away from adjacent properties and public rights-of-way to prevent offensive light or glare.
Official source re-checked September 8, 2026: no newer edition of the code had been published (publisher’s edition: current through Ordinance 1868, passed April 9, 2026).
Full Breakdown
Light trespass - light spilling onto neighboring property - is addressed in unincorporated Solano County through the performance and development standards in Chapter 28, rather than a standalone illumination ordinance. ' The county's general performance standards prohibit 'glint or glare detectable beyond any property line or by overflying aircraft,' which functions as a practical anti-trespass limit. ' These provisions are enforced through project conditions and code compliance when spillover creates a nuisance. Because there is no single quantitative footcandle limit at the property line, persistent light-trespass disputes are typically handled as nuisance/code-compliance matters; document the spillover and contact Code Compliance via the Planning Division (707-784-6765).
Violations & Fines
Exterior lighting that casts offensive light or glare onto neighboring property or rights-of-way, or that disturbs an abutting residential district, can be cited as a nuisance and may require shielding, redirection, or fixture changes.
Frequently Asked Questions
What can I do about a neighbor's light shining on my property?
Is there a specific brightness limit at my property line?
Sources & Official References
Other rules in Solano County
California rules heatmap·Compare Solano County to another location·View the California outdoor lighting overview
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