Glenn County, CA Outdoor Lighting: Light Trespass & Shielding (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.
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?
Does Glenn County set a numeric limit on light at the property line?
Does the light trespass rule apply to construction lighting?
Sources & Official References
Other rules in Glenn County
California rules heatmap·Compare Glenn County to another location·View the California outdoor lighting overview
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