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Colusa County, CA Outdoor Lighting: Light Trespass & Shielding (2026)

Light Restrictions

Compiled from the official code textEditor Martyn O'NeillLast verified June 2026

Key Facts

Code section: Colusa County Code Sec. 44-3.30.010 (Lighting Standards)
Light-trespass rule: No direct light outside the property line or into the public right-of-way
Shielding requirement: Full shielding/recessed; directed downward and away from neighbors
High-mounted fixtures: Over 6 ft: cone of direct light limited to 60 degrees or less
Accent lighting: Low-intensity only, producing no glare or light trespass
Numeric footcandle limit?: None - shielding/no-direct-light standard governs

Summary

Unincorporated Colusa County's Zoning Code controls light trespass through Section 44-3.30.010, which requires all outdoor lighting to be located, shielded, and directed so that no direct light falls outside the property line or into the public right-of-way. Fixtures must be fully shielded and aimed downward and away from adjoining properties.

These county ordinances apply to unincorporated areas of Colusa County. Incorporated cities within the county may have their own rules that take precedence over county-level regulations.

Nuisance Prevention. All outdoor lighting shall be located, adequately shielded, and directed such that no direct light falls outside the property line, or into the public right-of-way as illustrated in Figure 44-3.30-1 (Light Trespass).

View official code

Official source re-checked September 8, 2026: no newer edition of the code had been published (publisher’s edition: current through Ordinance 850, passed April 7, 2026).

Full Breakdown

010 (Lighting Standards), part of the Outdoor Lighting section. 30-1). ' Fixtures located higher than 6 feet above the ground must have shielding that limits the cone of direct illumination to 60 degrees or less. ' These standards apply to outdoor lighting in residential, commercial, industrial, and special-purpose zones (and adjacent lighting), excluding publicly owned facilities and rights-of-way (Sec. 30). Colusa County does not set a numeric footcandle limit at the property line; the operative test is full shielding, downward direction, and no direct light crossing the property line. Persistent spillover lighting may be addressed as a nuisance; report concerns to Colusa County Planning & Building.

Violations & Fines

Allowing direct light to fall outside your property line or into the public right-of-way, or using outdoor lighting that is not fully shielded and directed downward and away from adjoining properties, violates Section 44-3.30.010 of the Colusa County Zoning Code. Code enforcement may require correction of the lighting, and persistent spillover may be abated as a nuisance.

Frequently Asked Questions

What can I do about a neighbor's lights shining onto my property in Colusa County?

Colusa County Code Section 44-3.30.010 requires all outdoor lighting to be shielded and directed so that no direct light falls outside the property line, and fixtures must be fully shielded and aimed downward and away from adjoining properties. You can report non-compliant lighting to Colusa County Planning & Building for enforcement.

Does Colusa County set a numeric limit on light at the property line?

No. The county's Zoning Code does not set a footcandle or lumen cap at the lot line. Instead, Section 44-3.30.010 uses a shielding-and-no-direct-light standard: lighting must be fully shielded, directed downward and away, and no direct light may fall outside the property line or into the public right-of-way.

Are there extra rules for tall light fixtures?

Yes. Under Section 44-3.30.010, fixtures located higher than 6 feet above the ground must have shielding that limits the angle of the cone of direct illumination to 60 degrees or less, in addition to the general requirement that no direct light fall outside the property line.

Sources & Official References

Other rules in Colusa County

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All Colusa County rules

California rules heatmap·Compare Colusa County to another location·View the California outdoor lighting overview

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