Chico, CA Outdoor Lighting: Light Trespass & Shielding (2026)
Key Facts
- Governing section
- § 19.60.050 Exterior lighting
- Fixture standard
- Full cutoff for parking/security
- Direction required
- Downward, away from neighbors
- Exempt uses
- Signs, traffic safety, street lighting
Summary
Chico's municipal code requires exterior lighting to be shielded or recessed so glare stays on-site, directed downward and away from neighboring properties, with full cutoff fixtures required for parking and security lights.
Exterior lighting shall be architecturally integrated with the character of all structures, energy-efficient, and shielded or recessed so that direct glare and reflections are confined, to the maximum extent feasible, within the boundaries of the site. Exterior lighting shall be directed downward and away from adjacent properties and public rights-of-way. Shielded shall mean that the light rays are directed onto the site and the light source, whether bulb or tube, is not visible from an adjacent property. All parking and security lighting shall consist of full cutoff fixtures, unless a different cutoff classification is specifically authorized through the architectural review process. This section does not apply to sign illumination, traffic safety lighting, or public street lighting. No permanently installed lighting shall blink, flash, or be of unusually high intensity or brightness. All lighting fixtures shall be appropriate in scale, intensity, and height to the use they are serving. (Ord. 2185; Ord. 2381 §6)
Official source re-checked September 7, 2026: no newer edition of the code had been published (publisher’s edition: Supplement contains local legislation current through: Codified Resolution No. 53-26, adopted 7-14-26 and Ordinance No. 2622, adopted 6-2-26).
Full Breakdown
Chico Municipal Code § 19.60.050 requires all exterior lighting to be shielded or recessed so direct glare and reflections are confined to the site, and directed downward and away from adjacent properties and public rights-of-way. 'Shielded' means the light source itself, bulb or tube, isn't visible from a neighboring parcel. Parking and security lighting must use full cutoff fixtures unless the architectural review process authorizes a different cutoff classification. Sign illumination, traffic safety lighting, and public street lighting are exempt, and no permanently installed fixture may blink, flash, or run at unusually high intensity.
Violations & Fines
Violating § 19.60.050 is an infraction under Chico's general enforcement provision, § 1.04.120, with each day of continued violation charged as a separate offense; the Community Development Director enforces compliance through code enforcement action.
Frequently Asked Questions
Does Chico require dark-sky-compliant lighting fixtures?
Can a neighbor's floodlight legally shine into my yard in Chico?
Sources & Official References
Other rules in Chico
California rules heatmap·Compare Chico to another location·View the California outdoor lighting overview
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