Ventura, CA Outdoor Lighting: Light Trespass & Shielding (2026)
Key Facts
- Citywide rule
- no excessive spillage onto adjacent properties
- LM/MU overlay rule
- "full cut off" IESNA luminaires required
- Height cap near single-family homes
- 16 feet
- Height cap in parking lots
- 20 feet
- Design review required
- for lighting improvements, §24.545.030
- Building-mounted fixtures
- no higher than parapet or eave
Summary
New development and lighting improvements citywide must avoid spilling light onto neighboring property under Municipal Code Section 24.423.010, and within Ventura's Residential and Mixed-Use (LM/MU) overlay zones, Section 24.305.040(F)(2) goes further, requiring every outdoor luminaire to be shielded and meet Illuminating Engineering Society "full cut off" standards.
2. Light Trespass. All lights shall be directed, oriented, and shielded to prevent light trespass or glare onto adjacent properties. All luminaires shall meet the most recently adopted criteria of the Illuminating Engineering Society of North America (IESNA) for “cut off” or “full cut off” luminaires. ... Lighting fixtures shall be designed and selected to avoid excessive spillage of illumination onto public right-of-way and adjacent properties, by using a subdued light source in keeping with the character of the residential neighborhood, or a hooded or shielded fixture for nonresidential properties.
Official source re-checked September 8, 2026: no newer edition of the code had been published (publisher’s edition: current through Ordinance 2026-008, passed May 12, 2026).
Full Breakdown
030. 040(F) adds specific numeric limits: freestanding outdoor light fixtures abutting single-family homes or residential zones are capped at 16 feet, pedestrian-scale fixtures for walkways and outdoor space are also capped at 16 feet, and freestanding fixtures in parking lots or any other location are capped at 20 feet. Subsection (F)(2), titled Light Trespass, requires that "all lights shall be directed, oriented, and shielded to prevent light trespass or glare onto adjacent properties" and that every luminaire meet the current Illuminating Engineering Society of North America criteria for "cut off" or "full cut off" fixtures, the industry standard for controlling glare and spill.
Fixture design must also match the project's architecture under (F)(3), and building-mounted fixtures may attach only to walls or eaves, with the fixture top never exceeding the parapet, roof, or eave line under (F)(4).
Violations & Fines
Lighting plans that spill onto neighboring lots or skip required design review are held up at plan check; the director can require a photometric study before approving a permit, and within LM/MU overlay projects, luminaires that aren't "full cut off" rated or that exceed the 16-or-20-foot height caps must be redesigned before Community Development signs off on the building or lighting permit.
Frequently Asked Questions
Can a neighbor complain about a bright security light in Ventura?
What extra lighting rules apply in Ventura's LM/MU overlay zones?
How tall can a parking lot light pole be in Ventura?
Sources & Official References
Other rules in Ventura
California rules heatmap·Compare Ventura to another location·View the California outdoor lighting overview
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Light Trespass & Shielding in Nearby Cities
How other cities in Ventura County handle light trespass & shielding.