San Bernardino County, CA Outdoor Lighting: Light Trespass & Shielding (2026)
Key Facts
- Valley cap
- 0.5 foot-candle at property line
- Mountain/desert cap
- 0.1 foot-candle
- Color temperature limit
- 3,000 Kelvin or less
- Curfew (mountain/desert)
- Off by 11:00 p.m.
- Compliance deadline (existing fixtures)
- 18-24 months from 2021
Summary
Commercial and industrial lighting can't spill more than 0.5 foot-candles onto neighboring homes or the street; mountain and desert zones cap it at 0.1 foot-candles.
(a) Light Trespass from Commercial or Industrial Use - Prohibited. Outdoor lighting of commercial or industrial land uses shall be fully shielded to preclude light pollution or light trespass in excess of the maximum allowed foot-candles allowed by subdivision (b) on any of the following: (1) An abutting residential land use zoning district; (2) A residential parcel; or (3) Public right-of-way. (b) Maximum Allowed Foot-candles. Direct or indirect light from any light source shall not cause light trespass exceeding five-tenths foot-candles when measured at the property line...
Full Breakdown
County Code § 83.07.050(a)-(b) bans light trespass from commercial or industrial land uses onto abutting residential zoning districts, residential parcels, and public rights-of-way in the Valley region, requiring full shielding and capping spillover at five-tenths (0.5) foot-candle measured at the property line with a light meter using the CIE standard curve. In the mountain and desert regions, § 83.07.060 tightens the cap to one-tenth (0.1) foot-candle, requires full shielding, motion sensors or timers, a 3,000 Kelvin color-temperature ceiling, and an 11:00 p.m. dark-sky curfew with limited exceptions for entries, driveways, and motion-triggered lighting. Fixtures installed before the 2021 ordinance got 18 to 24 months to comply; non-compliant fixtures after that deadline must stay off except for security or safety lighting.
Violations & Fines
Enforced under Development Code Chapter 86.09 and Title 2, Chapter 2 (Violations); non-compliant fixtures past the compliance deadline must remain extinguished except for security/safety use.
Frequently Asked Questions
How much light can spill onto my neighbor's yard from a commercial property in unincorporated San Bernardino County?
Do residential light fixtures have to be shielded too?
Sources & Official References
Other rules in San Bernardino County
California rules heatmap·Compare San Bernardino County to another location·View the California outdoor lighting overview
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