Murrieta, CA Outdoor Lighting: Light Trespass & Shielding (2026)
Key Facts
- Governing section
- §16.18.100(A) and (C)
- Footcandle cap
- 0.3 footcandles at residential lines
- Security lighting minimum
- 2 footcandles at entrances/exits
- Exempt uses
- Residential, signs, traffic, street lights
- Review stage
- Building plan check/site plan approval
Summary
Murrieta requires exterior lighting to be shielded so glare and the light source itself stay off neighboring parcels, and caps parking-lot and outdoor lighting at 0.3 footcandles at residential property lines. The shielding duty comes from §16.18.100 but exempts residential uses, sign illumination, traffic safety lighting and public street lights.
A. Exterior Lighting. Exterior lighting shall be: ... 2. Directed downward and shielded so that glare is confined within the boundaries of the subject parcel; ... 4. Appropriate in height, intensity, and scale to the uses they are serving. Outside and parking lot lighting shall not exceed 0.3 footcandles at residential property lines. ... C. Shielded Lighting. Light sources shall be shielded to direct light rays onto the subject parcel only. The light source, whether bulb or tube, shall not be visible from an adjacent property. This section does not apply to residential uses, sign illumination, traffic safety lighting, or public street lighting.
Official source re-checked September 7, 2026: no newer edition of the code had been published (publisher’s edition: 2026 S-23: A Codification of the General Ordinances of the City of Murrieta, California through Ord. 634-26, passed 7-7-2026).
Full Breakdown
" Subsection C, "Shielded Lighting," goes further for nonresidential and multi-family sites: "Light sources shall be shielded to direct light rays onto the subject parcel only. " Compliance is reviewed at the building-plan-check and site-plan stage by the planning department, and the director can require photometric or fixture plans showing placement and shielding before approving outdoor lighting on commercial, industrial or multi-family projects.
Violations & Fines
Light-trespass complaints are handled first through code enforcement inspection of the offending fixture's shielding and footcandle output at the property line. Because Chapter 16.18 has no standalone fine schedule, a confirmed violation is prosecuted under the citywide general penalty, Murrieta Code of Ordinances §1.08.050, as an infraction: up to $100 for a first offense, $200 for a second within a year, and $500 or misdemeanor charges (up to $1,000 or six months in jail) for a third.
Frequently Asked Questions
Can my neighbor's parking lot lights shine directly onto my yard?
Is there a numeric brightness limit at the property line?
Does the shielding rule apply to my own house lights?
Sources & Official References
Other rules in Murrieta
California rules heatmap·Compare Murrieta to another location·View the California outdoor lighting overview
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