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

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

Key Facts

Code section
Glenn County Code Sec. 15.560.080 (Glare and Heat)
Light-trespass rule
No unobstructed beam directed beyond an exterior lot line
Shielding requirement
Exterior lighting hooded, shielded or opaque
Where measured
At the exterior lot lines (Sec. 15.560.020(B))
Numeric footcandle limit?
None - shielding/no-beam standard governs

Summary

Glenn County's Unified Development Code addresses light trespass through Section 15.560.080, which prohibits directing any unobstructed beam of light beyond an exterior lot line and requires all exterior lighting to be hooded, shielded or opaque. Compliance is measured at the property lines.

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

All exterior lighting accessory to any use shall be hooded, shielded or opaque. No unobstructed beam of light shall be directed beyond any exterior lot line.

Full Breakdown

080 (Glare and Heat) of the Unified Development Code. The standard states that 'All exterior lighting accessory to any use shall be hooded, shielded or opaque' and that 'No unobstructed beam of light shall be directed beyond any exterior lot line,' with buildings and structures under construction exempt. 020(B) provides that any required measurements are made at the exterior lot lines, which is the relevant boundary for evaluating spillover light. 010 frames the purpose of the chapter as promoting compatibility among land uses, protecting the rural-agricultural character of the county, and controlling nuisances.

030(C)). 060(C)(6) separately requires that sign lighting not produce glare on other properties and that the light source not be visible from adjacent property or a public street. Glenn County does not set numeric footcandle limits at the property line, so the operative test is whether exterior lighting is fully shielded and whether any unobstructed beam crosses your lot line. Persistent light spillover may also be addressed as a nuisance; direct questions to Glenn County Planning & Community Development Services Code Enforcement.

Violations & Fines

Directing an unobstructed beam of light beyond your exterior lot line, or using exterior lighting that is not hooded, shielded or opaque, violates Section 15.560.080 of the Glenn County Unified Development Code. The Code Enforcement division may require correction of the lighting, and persistent spillover may be abated as a public nuisance with recovery of enforcement costs.

Frequently Asked Questions

What can I do about a neighbor's lights shining onto my property in Glenn County?
Glenn County Code Section 15.560.080 prohibits directing an unobstructed beam of light beyond an exterior lot line and requires exterior lighting to be hooded, shielded or opaque. You can report non-compliant lighting to Glenn County Planning & Community Development Services Code Enforcement, which evaluates compliance at the property lines.
Does Glenn County set a numeric limit on light at the property line?
No. The county's Unified Development Code does not set a footcandle or lumen cap at the lot line. Instead, Section 15.560.080 uses a shielding-and-no-beam standard: lighting must be hooded, shielded or opaque and no unobstructed beam may be directed beyond an exterior lot line.
Does the light trespass rule apply to construction lighting?
No. Section 15.560.080 expressly exempts buildings and structures under construction from the requirement that no unobstructed beam of light be directed beyond an exterior lot line. The rule otherwise applies to all exterior lighting accessory to a use.

Sources & Official References

Other rules in Glenn County

All Glenn County rules

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