San Diego County, CA Outdoor Lighting: Light Trespass (2026)

Light trespass — light spilling from one property onto a neighbor's — is directly regulated by Section 6324 of the San Diego County Zoning Ordinance (Lighting Permitted in Required Yards), as amended by Ordinance 9690. Subsection (c) provides that the illumination of adjacent premises by spill light may not exceed 0.2 foot-candles, measured in the horizontal or vertical plane at a point five feet and three feet above grade level inside the adjacent property, taken 15 minutes after the fixture starts up. Subsection (b) requires luminaires to be designed and shielded by horizontal cutoff so that all light directed above the horizontal is eliminated, with the lower edge of the housing extending below the entire light source and glassware. Lights illuminating vehicular areas must be mounted at least 12 feet above the ground (subsection d), and lighting poles must be spaced at least 50 feet apart (subsection e). Subsection (g) cross-references the Dark Skies / Light Pollution Code, requiring all outdoor lighting to also comply with the County Light Pollution Code (Section 59.101). Section 6326 applies subsections (a), (b), (c), and (g) of Section 6324 to outdoor area lighting not located in required yards.