Pittsburg, CA Outdoor Lighting: Light Trespass (2026)

Under Pittsburg Municipal Code Title 18 zoning standards, outdoor lighting on private property must be designed and installed so that the light source is not directly visible from adjacent residential properties and so that light does not spill beyond property lines in measurable quantities. Typical industry standards, which Pittsburg references, limit light trespass at residential property lines to 0.5 foot-candles or less when measured at grade. Commercial-to-residential zone boundaries have stricter limits (often 0.1 fc). Full cutoff fixtures that emit no light above 90 degrees horizontal are required for parking lots, signs, and commercial building lighting. Residential floodlights should be aimed below horizontal and fitted with shields. Sports court lighting in residential yards requires special review and typically has hour limits (off by 10 PM). Glare — defined as excessive contrast or directly visible light sources — is prohibited where it impairs driver visibility on public streets or creates nuisance conditions for neighbors. Automobile dealer lights, digital billboard lighting, and similar high-intensity commercial applications are subject to additional conditional use permit review. Complaints about light trespass are investigated by Pittsburg Code Enforcement, which may require fixture modifications, shielding, aiming adjustments, or lower-output lamps. Unresolved violations may lead to administrative citations and fines typically starting at $100.