San Bernardino, CA Outdoor Lighting: Light Trespass (2026)

Light trespass, defined as outdoor lighting that casts directly onto adjacent properties or public ways, is regulated by the San Bernardino Development Code outdoor lighting provisions. Typical standards limit illumination measured at the property line of a residential use to 0.1 footcandle (1 lux) vertical, with commercial-to-commercial property lines permitting slightly higher levels. Fixtures must be fully shielded so the bare lamp is not visible from off-site, and the horizontal light output must be effectively cut off at the fixture. Common violations include high-lumen security flood lights aimed at a neighbor's yard, uplighting on landscape features that spills onto upper-story windows, and bright LED wall-pack fixtures at commercial sites without proper shielding. Remedies include Code Enforcement citations, civil nuisance actions under California Civil Code 3479 (private nuisance), and in severe cases Superior Court injunctions. Neighbor disputes often begin with a polite written request; the San Bernardino Community Mediation program through the Inland Fair Housing and Mediation Board offers free mediation. Holiday lighting is typically exempt from trespass standards during seasonal periods but may not include high-intensity lasers or strobes directed off-site. Streetlight glare into homes can be addressed by requesting a shield from Southern California Edison or Public Works; glare from state highway lighting is addressed by Caltrans District 8.