Colusa County, CA Outdoor Lighting: Light Trespass & Shielding (2026)
Key Facts
- Code section
- Colusa County Code Sec. 44-3.30.010 (Lighting Standards)
- Light-trespass rule
- No direct light outside the property line or into the public right-of-way
- Shielding requirement
- Full shielding/recessed; directed downward and away from neighbors
- High-mounted fixtures
- Over 6 ft: cone of direct light limited to 60 degrees or less
- Accent lighting
- Low-intensity only, producing no glare or light trespass
- Numeric footcandle limit?
- None - shielding/no-direct-light standard governs
Summary
Unincorporated Colusa County's Zoning Code controls light trespass through Section 44-3.30.010, which requires all outdoor lighting to be located, shielded, and directed so that no direct light falls outside the property line or into the public right-of-way. Fixtures must be fully shielded and aimed downward and away from adjoining properties.
Nuisance Prevention. All outdoor lighting shall be located, adequately shielded, and directed such that no direct light falls outside the property line, or into the public right-of-way as illustrated in Figure 44-3.30-1 (Light Trespass).
Official source re-checked September 8, 2026: no newer edition of the code had been published (publisher’s edition: current through Ordinance 850, passed April 7, 2026).
Full Breakdown
010 (Lighting Standards), part of the Outdoor Lighting section. 30-1). ' Fixtures located higher than 6 feet above the ground must have shielding that limits the cone of direct illumination to 60 degrees or less. ' These standards apply to outdoor lighting in residential, commercial, industrial, and special-purpose zones (and adjacent lighting), excluding publicly owned facilities and rights-of-way (Sec. 30). Colusa County does not set a numeric footcandle limit at the property line; the operative test is full shielding, downward direction, and no direct light crossing the property line. Persistent spillover lighting may be addressed as a nuisance; report concerns to Colusa County Planning & Building.
Violations & Fines
Allowing direct light to fall outside your property line or into the public right-of-way, or using outdoor lighting that is not fully shielded and directed downward and away from adjoining properties, violates Section 44-3.30.010 of the Colusa County Zoning Code. Code enforcement may require correction of the lighting, and persistent spillover may be abated as a nuisance.
Frequently Asked Questions
What can I do about a neighbor's lights shining onto my property in Colusa County?
Does Colusa County set a numeric limit on light at the property line?
Are there extra rules for tall light fixtures?
Sources & Official References
Other rules in Colusa County
California rules heatmap·Compare Colusa County to another location·View the California outdoor lighting overview
See something wrong?
Help us keep this page accurate. If you notice an error or outdated information, let us know.