Monterey County, CA Outdoor Lighting: Light Trespass (2026)

Light trespass - light spilling from one property onto adjacent properties, roads or the night sky - is governed in Monterey County by General Plan Policy LU-1.13 and the Design Guidelines for Exterior Lighting. Policy LU-1.13 requires that exterior lighting be constructed or located so that only the intended area is illuminated, long-range visibility of the lighting source is reduced, and off-site glare is fully controlled. The Title 21, Chapter 21.63 design guidelines set criteria for fixture location, direction, number and design to keep lighting unobtrusive and to reduce off-site glare. Unlike some jurisdictions, Monterey County does not publish a numeric maximum illuminance (footcandles) at property boundaries; instead, compliance is judged against the qualitative 'fully controlled off-site glare' standard and applied through project review and code enforcement. Recommended fixture practice - shielded, downward-directed lighting that does not cast light or glare beyond the parcel - is how owners typically satisfy the standard. Neighbors experiencing light trespass can raise the issue with Monterey County planning/code-compliance staff, who can evaluate whether a fixture meets the LU-1.13 standard.