Fullerton, CA Outdoor Lighting: Light Trespass (2026)

Light trespass -- unwanted light spilling from one property onto another -- is addressed in unincorporated Orange County primarily through the general lighting standard in Comprehensive Zoning Code Sec. 7-9-67, which states that all lighting shall be designed and located so as to confine direct rays to the premises. This is the County's core defense against light spilling onto neighboring homes. The standard is reinforced in specific contexts: under Sec. 7-9-114.4(5)(a), lighted and illuminated signs must be installed so that direct light rays are confined to the site, and sign lighting may not be of an intensity or brightness that creates a nuisance for residential buildings in a direct line of sight. Parking-area lighting must be designed and situated to prevent headlight and fixture glare and direct visibility from adjacent streets, and certain special uses limit outdoor lighting intensity and require it to be directed toward the site. The County does not publish a numeric foot-candle limit at property lines for general residential lighting; instead, enforcement turns on whether direct rays are confined to the originating premises. A homeowner experiencing glare from a neighbor's floodlights or a nearby business can point to Sec. 7-9-67 and the relevant context provisions when filing a complaint. Aiming fixtures downward, adding shields, and using lower-intensity bulbs are the practical ways to comply.