Sacramento County Zoning Code §5.11 (Outdoor Lighting) limits residential outdoor light spill to 0.5 foot-candles at the receiving residential property line, requires shielded fixtures, and prohibits light trespass into adjacent dwellings.
Sacramento County Zoning Code §5.11 sets outdoor lighting standards in unincorporated areas. Light cannot exceed 0.5 foot-candles measured at residential property lines. Fixtures must be 'fully shielded' (no light emitted above horizontal) for any new or replacement luminaire on commercial property, and strongly encouraged for residential. Motion-activated security lighting is permitted but should not stay on more than 5 minutes after motion ends. Sports field lighting, parking lot lighting, and commercial signage have specific maximum-intensity limits. Violations of light-trespass standards are enforced through code enforcement after a documented neighbor complaint.
Administrative penalty $100/$200/$500 escalating under SCC Ch. 1.01. Persistent trespass can result in mandatory fixture replacement under abatement order.
Other ordinances people look up for this city. Green dot = verified primary-source excerpt.
Carmichael, CA
Retaining walls in Carmichael require a Sacramento County Building Permit under SCC §16.04 when they retain more than 4 feet of soil measured from the bottom...
Carmichael, CA
Sacramento County Code prohibits feeding wildlife - including coyotes, deer, raccoons, and waterfowl - in residential areas. Feeding ferals and free-roaming ...
Carmichael, CA
Sacramento County allows backyard beekeeping in Carmichael on lots of at least 5,000 square feet - 2 hives on lots under 10,000 sqft, 4 hives on 10,000-20,00...
Carmichael, CA
Sacramento County Zoning Code §3.9.3.G allows backyard chickens, ducks, and geese on Carmichael residential lots of at least 10,000 square feet. Roosters req...
Carmichael, CA
Sacramento County Code Title 8 (Animals) requires dogs off the owner's property to be restrained by a leash not exceeding 8 feet. Within Sacramento County Re...
Carmichael, CA
Sacramento County Code Ch. 17.12 (Weed Control) and §16.18.401 require Carmichael property owners to keep weeds, brush, and rank vegetation cut to specified ...
Side-by-side rule comparisons with other cities in Sacramento County.
See how other cities in Sacramento County handle light trespass.
See how Carmichael's light trespass rules stack up against other locations.
Help us keep this page accurate. If you notice an error or outdated information, let us know.