Kings County, CA Outdoor Lighting: Light Trespass & Shielding (2026)
Key Facts
- Fixture requirement
- Hooded and shielded
- Aim direction
- Downward, away from neighbors
- Applies to
- All new outdoor lighting
- Repeated in
- Ag, Commercial, Mixed-Use, Industrial articles
Summary
New exterior lighting on homes, businesses, and industrial sites in unincorporated Kings County must be hooded, shielded, and aimed downward and away from neighboring property and sensitive uses to stop glare and light spilling off-site.
All new proposed uses shall preserve the existing nighttime environment by ensuring that the outdoor lighting for the use is so arranged and/or hooded as to reflect light away from adjoining properties.
2. New lighting that is part of residential, commercial, industrial, or recreational development shall be oriented away from sensitive uses, and shall be hooded, shielded, and located to direct light pools downward and prevent glare.
3. To achieve the desired lighting level for parking and pedestrian areas, the use of more short, low intensity fixtures is encouraged over the use of a few tall fixtures that illuminate large areas.
F. Resource Conservation: All property owners and residents in Kings County are highly encouraged to participate in resource conservation efforts to help preserve and conserve dwindling natural resources. All property owners proposing new development within the agricultural zoning districts are encouraged to implement the following resource conservation measures, as applicable, as part of their development proposals.
1. Water Meters: The installation of water meters to encourage water conservation.
2. Stormwater Drainage: The integration of onsite stormwater drainage features such as small catch basins, rain gardens, and landscape depression basins into site plans to increase the stormwater detention.
Full Breakdown
Development Code Article 4 requires every new development in the county's agricultural zoning districts to control its outdoor lighting: fixtures must be arranged or hooded so light does not spill onto adjoining property, and any new residential, commercial, industrial, or recreational lighting, including security and yard fixtures, must be hooded, shielded, and directed downward to prevent glare beyond the property line. Nearly identical shielding language repeats in the Commercial, Mixed Use, and Industrial district articles, making it the county's baseline standard for essentially every new outdoor fixture, not just farmland.
Violations & Fines
Unshielded new lighting installed without approval violates the Development Code; § 2403 makes violations infractions under Kings County Code § 1-8.1, and the Zoning Administrator may order a stop-work order on the project.
Frequently Asked Questions
Does Kings County require security lights to be shielded?
Where does this shielding rule apply?
Sources & Official References
Other rules in Kings County
California rules heatmap·Compare Kings County to another location·View the California outdoor lighting overview
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