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

Light trespass across property lines is regulated by Development Code Chapter 83.07 (Glare and Outdoor Lighting). In the Valley Region, Section 83.07.030 requires that commercial and industrial outdoor lighting be fully shielded to preclude light pollution or trespass onto an abutting residential district, a residential parcel, or the public right-of-way, and provides that direct or indirect light from any fixture may not cause glare above five-tenths (0.5) foot-candles measured at the property line of a residential district, residential parcel, or public right-of-way. Light trespass is determined using a quantitative method: a standard yardstick is placed at the building setback line in the complainant's yard and a measurement is taken to see whether the light source casts a shadow, using a photoelectric photometer following the International Commission on Illumination luminous-efficiency curve; measurements are not taken when the moon is in the night sky (Section 83.07.030(b)). In the Mountain and Desert Regions, the stricter Light Trespass Ordinance (effective January 6, 2022) requires fully shielded fixtures that do not permit light trespass in excess of 0.1 foot-candle, with the same measurement method applied (Section 83.07.040(b)). For existing nonconforming fixtures, the Director may require shielding, filtering, redirection, replacement with a less-intense source, or removal where light pollution or trespass is found.