Unincorporated San Joaquin County regulates outdoor lighting under the Development Title dark-sky and glare provisions, requiring fixtures to be shielded so that light does not spill onto adjoining properties or across roadways. Lighting near rural AG-zoned land and the Lodi AVA wineries must avoid measurable illumination at property lines, and violations are handled by Community Development code enforcement as nuisance cases.
San Joaquin County Development Title §9-1010 (Outdoor Lighting) requires all exterior fixtures in unincorporated areas to be fully shielded, downward-directed, and aimed so that no direct illumination crosses a property line or interferes with driver vision on county roads. Residential security lighting must not exceed roughly 0.5 foot-candles at the nearest residential property line. Agricultural operations are permitted higher task lighting during harvest but must use shields to prevent skyglow affecting neighboring residences and the Lodi AVA viticulture area, which is sensitive to night-sky disruption. Commercial and industrial uses along I-5, I-205, and SR-99 corridors are subject to stricter curfew provisions that require non-essential lighting to be reduced after 11 PM. String lights, LED floodlights, and decorative holiday displays are generally allowed so long as they do not create glare for motorists or neighbors. Stockton, Lodi, and Manteca each maintain separate municipal lighting codes (Stockton Municipal Code §16.32, Lodi Municipal Code §17.32, Manteca Municipal Code §17.74) with similar shielding standards. Complaints go to the Community Development Department, which sends a correction notice before escalating to citation.
Light trespass complaint: 30-day correction notice from Community Development. Non-compliance after notice: infraction citation $100 first offense, $200 second, $500 third within 12 months. Commercial glare violations: up to $1,000 per day per Development Title §9-1210. Chronic violators may be referred to the County Counsel for injunctive relief.
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