Martinez, CA Outdoor Lighting: Light Trespass (2026)

Residential exterior lighting in Martinez is addressed through Martinez Municipal Code Title 17 zoning standards and general nuisance provisions. While Martinez is not a designated 'dark sky' community, exterior lighting installed on residential property is expected to be shielded, directed downward, and limited to the intensity reasonably necessary for safety and use of the property. Fixtures should not cause glare visible from adjacent residential properties or direct illumination that trespasses materially beyond property lines. Unshielded floodlights, barn lights, and wall packs that cast light horizontally or upward are a common source of neighbor disputes and code enforcement complaints. Security lighting should be motion-activated where possible and aimed to illuminate only the owner's property. Lighting for accessory uses such as sport courts, swimming pools, and detached workshops is subject to the same general standards. Holiday/seasonal lighting is generally permitted but expected to be removed within a reasonable time after the holiday. Landscape path lighting and low-voltage accent lighting are generally unregulated when low-wattage. New construction and substantial remodels may trigger Title 24 Part 6 outdoor lighting efficiency standards, which limit wattage and require controls (timers, photocells, motion sensors) for permanent exterior fixtures. Complaints about light trespass are typically handled through the Code Enforcement Division as a nuisance, with remedies including shielding, reaiming, or replacement of offending fixtures. Egregious or ongoing violations may result in administrative citations. Lighting that creates a hazard for traffic on a public street (e.g., glare visible to drivers) may be abated more urgently.