Garden Grove, CA Outdoor Lighting: Light Trespass (2026)

Garden Grove addresses light trespass through its zoning and nuisance provisions. Property owners must aim and shield outdoor lighting fixtures so that direct light does not spill onto neighboring residential properties, public streets, or other areas beyond the property boundaries. Light trespass occurs when illumination from one property unreasonably interferes with the use and enjoyment of an adjacent property. Common sources of residential light trespass complaints include unshielded flood lights, improperly aimed security lights, and landscape uplighting that spills beyond property lines. Garden Grove Code Enforcement handles light trespass complaints and works with property owners to resolve issues, typically by adjusting fixture aim, adding shielding, reducing wattage, or repositioning lights. Commercial properties adjacent to residential zones are subject to stricter lighting controls during the development review process to prevent spillover. For new construction and renovations, the California Building Code and Energy Code set standards for exterior lighting that inherently reduce light trespass through downlighting and shielding requirements.