Kern County, CA Outdoor Lighting: Light Trespass & Shielding (2026)
Key Facts
- Fully shielded standard
- No light rays above the fixture's horizontal plane
- Trigger wattage
- 100 watts or 1,600 lumens requires full shielding
- Sub-100W floodlights
- Still need partial shielding against spillover
- Sports lighting curfew
- Off within 30 minutes of event ending
- Complaint contact
- Engineering, Surveying and Permit Services Code Compliance
Summary
Kern County's outdoor lighting chapter defines a 'fully shielded' fixture as one that projects no light rays above the horizontal plane at its lowest light-emitting point, and bars any fully-shielded fixture from casting direct light onto a neighbor's property other than a shared solid fence. Floodlights under 100 watts still need partial shielding to cut spillover, and sports-field lighting must aim so off-site glow onto residential lots stays minimal.
F.Fully Shielded: An outdoor lighting fixture that is shielded with a non translucent barrier or constructed in such a manner that the light rays emitted by the fixture, either directly from the lamp or indirectly from the fixture, are projected below a horizontal plane passing through the lowest point of the fixture where light is emitted. Light rays emitted by a fully-shielded fixture shall not cast direct light onto any adjacent property other than a common solid fence... A.Shielding. All outdoor lighting fixtures which utilize one hundred (100) watts or more (based on an incandescent bulb), or emit one thousand six hundred (1,600) lumens or more per fixture, shall be fully shielded per the definition listed in this chapter, unless the fixture is exempted by this chapter. All floodlights which utilize less than one hundred (100) watts per fixture must be at least partially shielded to reduce light spillover onto adjacent properties.
Official source re-checked September 7, 2026: no newer edition of the code had been published (publisher’s edition: Code of Ordinances: Supplement 59 Update 1).
Full Breakdown
040(F), which cap accent lighting at under 100 watts/1,600 lumens and require that no glare or off-site spillover result. 040(G): floodlights must be mounted, aimed and shielded so their beams stay within the playing area, off-site spillover onto E, R-1, R-2 or R-3 zoned property is minimized, and all non-security lighting shuts off within 30 minutes of an event ending. 040(H) must mount at the top of the structure, point down, stay fully shielded above 100 watts/1,600 lumens, and can't use exposed tubes visible from an adjoining right-of-way or property.
A property owner who believes a neighbor's fixture violates these standards files a written complaint, citing the specific subsection, with the Engineering, Surveying and Permit Services Department's Code Compliance Division.
Violations & Fines
Operating an unshielded fixture that spills light onto a neighbor's lot after the chapter's 2011 effective date is unlawful and a public nuisance under Section 19.81.070. Because Chapter 19.81 sits within Title 19, the zoning misdemeanor penalty in Section 19.114.060 applies: up to $1,000 and six months in county jail, with each day of continuing trespass a separate offense, plus the county's option to pursue civil penalties and abatement.
Frequently Asked Questions
What counts as 'light trespass' under Kern County's rule?
My neighbor's floodlight shines into my yard all night. What can I do?
Do sports field lights at a nearby park have to point away from my house?
Sources & Official References
Other rules in Kern County
California rules heatmap·Compare Kern 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.