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

No light-trespass or glare ordinance with measurable limits (such as a maximum foot-candle reading at the property line) was located in unincorporated Lassen County's Title 18 Zoning Code. This is an honest 'no specific local rule' finding. Where outdoor lighting from one property shines onto another, the typical remedy is general nuisance law: light that substantially and unreasonably interferes with a neighbor's use and enjoyment of their property can be treated as a private nuisance, and the county's public-nuisance/code-enforcement framework (the county maintains a public-nuisance chapter and a Code Enforcement program) may apply in clear cases. For new commercial, industrial, or multi-family development processed through a use permit, the Planning Commission can impose project-specific lighting conditions - for example, requiring fixtures to be shielded and aimed downward to prevent spillover - even though there is no across-the-board numeric standard. Practical steps to avoid trespass complaints include using full-cutoff fixtures, aiming lights down and away from property lines, adding shields or timers, and reducing wattage. If you are experiencing significant light trespass, contact Lassen County Code Enforcement; if you are installing lighting for a new project, ask Planning and Building Services what conditions may apply.