Santa Clara County, CA Outdoor Lighting: Light Trespass & Shielding (2026)
Key Facts
- Max mounting height
- 12 feet above grade
- Direction required
- downward-facing
- Shielding
- required
- Scope
- wind energy tower structures only
Summary
Unincorporated Santa Clara County requires security lighting on accessory wind energy towers to sit no higher than 12 feet, face downward, and be fully shielded.
Lighting. Tower structure lighting shall be for security and aviation safety purposes only. Fixtures for security lighting shall be mounted no higher than 12 feet above grade, and shall be downward facing and properly shielded. Lighting for aviation safety purposes shall be limited to that required by federal law or regulation.
Official source re-checked September 7, 2026: no newer edition of the code had been published (publisher’s edition: Code of Ordinances: Supplement 65).
Full Breakdown
Section 4.20.020(M)(2)(f) of the county zoning ordinance regulates security lighting on small wind energy conversion system towers: the turbine structures allowed as accessory uses on residential and agricultural parcels in unincorporated Santa Clara County. Security fixtures must be mounted no higher than 12 feet above grade, must face downward, and must be properly shielded; lighting installed for aviation safety is limited to what federal law requires. This is a narrow, equipment-specific rule: it does not set a general standard for security floodlights on houses, garages or driveways, which instead fall under the county's broader light-pole shielding rule at Section 4.20.020(P).
Violations & Fines
Mounting wind-tower security lighting above 12 feet, aiming it outward instead of down, or leaving it unshielded can draw a building or zoning correction order from the county.
Frequently Asked Questions
Does this rule cover my house's motion-sensor security light?
How high can security lighting be mounted on a home wind turbine tower?
Sources & Official References
Other rules in Santa Clara County
California rules heatmap·Compare Santa Clara County to another location·View the California outdoor lighting overview
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