Skip to main content
CityRuleLookup

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

Some Restrictions
Compiled from the official code textEditor Martyn O'NeillLast verified August 2026

Key Facts

Banned
mercury vapor, drop-down lens
Also banned
searchlights, lasers, flashing lights
Exception
emergency/safety-response searchlights
Chapter
Development Code Ch. 11.19

Summary

Unincorporated Yuba County bans drop-down lens fixtures, mercury vapor lights, and searchlights, lasers, or flashing/blinking/moving lighting on covered new multifamily and non-residential projects.

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

(2)Prohibited lighting. The following types of exterior lighting are prohibited:a.Drop-down lenses;b.Mercury vapor lights; andc.Searchlights (excluding emergency/safety response activities), laser lights, or any other lighting that flashes, blinks, alternates, or moves.(3)Fixture type. All lighting fixtures shall be shielded so as not to produce obtrusive glare onto the public right-of-way or adjoining properties. All luminaries shall meet the most recently adopted criteria of the Illuminating Engineering Society of North America (IESNA) for "Cut Off" or "Full Cut Off" luminaries. In the Figure below, cd refers to the candela or measurement of luminous intensity based on the direction or angle of the light projection.

Figure 11.19.060(c)(3): Fixture Type Figure 11.19.060(c)(3): Fixture Type

(4)Light trespass. Lights shall be placed to deflect light away from adjacent properties and public streets, and to prevent adverse interference with the normal operation or enjoyment of surrounding properties.a.Direct or sky-reflected glare from floodlights shall not be directed into any other property or street.b.No light or combination of lights, or activity shall cast light exceeding one foot candle onto a public street, with the illumination level measured at the centerline of the street.c.No light, combination of lights, or activity shall cast light exceeding 0.5 foot candle onto a residentially zoned property, or any property containing residential uses.

View official code

Official source re-checked September 7, 2026: no newer edition of the code had been published (publisher’s edition: Code of Ordinances: Supplement 6).

Full Breakdown

Alongside its shielding and foot-candle rules, the Development Code's outdoor lighting standard flatly prohibits specific fixture types known for light pollution and glare: drop-down lens fixtures, mercury vapor lamps, and searchlights, laser lights, or any lighting that flashes, blinks, alternates, or moves, with a carve-out only for emergency or safety-response searchlight use. The prohibition applies to the same project scope as the rest of Section 11.19.060: new multifamily residential buildings, new non-residential development, and additions expanding floor area by 10 percent or more.

Violations & Fines

Yuba County Planning can reject a lighting plan containing a prohibited fixture type at permit review, or require removal and replacement of a prohibited fixture found in the field.

Frequently Asked Questions

Can a business install a mercury vapor security light in unincorporated Yuba County?
No. Mercury vapor lights are on the County's prohibited outdoor lighting list for covered development.
Are flashing or laser lights allowed for commercial signage or displays?
No, except for emergency or safety-response use; flashing, blinking, alternating, or moving lighting is otherwise prohibited.

Sources & Official References

Other rules in Yuba County

All Yuba County rules

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

Get notified when Light Trespass & Shielding in Yuba County, CA changes

We'll email you the moment we detect a change in the code. No spam, unsubscribe anytime.

We'll never sell or share your email. One-click unsubscribe in every email.

See something wrong?

Help us keep this page accurate. If you notice an error or outdated information, let us know.