San Diego's outdoor lighting regulations under SDMC §142.0740 address light trespass as part of the City's comprehensive lighting standards. Outdoor lighting must be designed to minimize negative impacts including light spillover onto adjacent properties. Fixtures must use shields and flat lenses to control light distribution. Recreational facility lighting may continue after 11:00 PM only when equipped with automatic timing devices and shielded to minimize light pollution.
San Diego codes prohibit light trespass, defined as artificial light that illuminates areas beyond the property where the fixture is installed. Residential properties typically must keep light levels below 0.5 to 1.0 foot-candles at the property line. Security lights must be aimed and shielded to illuminate only the owner's property. Floodlights aimed at neighboring homes are prohibited. String lights and decorative lighting must not create glare for neighbors or passing traffic. Holiday lighting may have temporary exemptions. Commercial properties face stricter standards with measured lumen limits at property boundaries.
Light trespass complaint: warning and 30-day correction period. Non-compliance: fines $100 to $300 per violation. Repeated complaints: escalating fines. Commercial violations: up to $1,000.
San Diego, CA
San Diego allows backyard recreational fires under San Diego Fire Code Section 511.0307 (adopting 2022 California Fire Code Section 307) when the fire is no ...
San Diego, CA
San Diego enforces 2022 California Residential Code Section R314 and California Health and Safety Code Sections 13113.7 and 13114 through the San Diego Build...
San Diego, CA
San Diego has no city ordinance regulating residential lawn ornaments, statuary, or religious displays on private property. California Civil Code § 4710 limi...
San Diego, CA
San Diego has no city ordinance specifically regulating residential inflatable holiday displays. Inflatables are permitted on private property subject to SDM...
San Diego, CA
San Diego has no city ordinance specifying installation dates, removal deadlines, or brightness limits for residential holiday lights. Amplified outdoor audi...
San Diego, CA
Built-in outdoor kitchens in San Diego require multiple permits through the Development Services Department: a building permit for the structure, a gas-line ...
Side-by-side rule comparisons with other cities in San Diego County.
See how other cities in San Diego County handle light trespass.
See how San Diego's light trespass rules stack up against other locations.
Help us keep this page accurate. If you notice an error or outdated information, let us know.