Calaveras County, CA Outdoor Lighting: Light Trespass & Shielding (2026)
Key Facts
- Max light at property line
- 0.1 foot-candle
- Commercial/industrial shared line
- 0.25 foot-candle (1/4 foot-candle)
- Shielding required
- Fully shielded or full cut-off fixtures
- Photometric plan
- Readings every 10 ft, required for most permits
- Exempt
- Decorative string lights not required to be shielded
Summary
Calaveras County caps outdoor light spilling onto neighboring property at 0.1 foot-candle at the property line, rising to one-quarter foot-candle between adjoining commercial or industrial parcels. Fixtures must be fully shielded or cut off, and no unobstructed beam may be directed off-site.
2.Maximum Light Levels at Property Lines. The light level at property lines shall not exceed 0.1 foot-candles, except as provided below or where allowed through the approval of a conditional use permit.a.Abutting or Within a Commercial or Industrial Zone. Where a property is located within a commercial or industrial zone and the neighboring property is located within a commercial or industrial zone, the maximum lighting level at the shared property line shall be ¼ foot-candles. 3.Shielding. All outdoor light fixtures shall be fully shielded or full cut off, except as provided below or as specifically stated in another part of this code. ... 4.Glare Prevention. All lights shall be selected, directed, and oriented to prevent light spillover and glare onto adjacent properties. No unobstructed beam of exterior light shall be directed off-site.
Official source re-checked September 7, 2026: no newer edition of the code had been published (publisher’s edition: Code of Ordinances: Supplement 23 Update 2).
Full Breakdown
1 foot-candle, whether the neighboring use is residential or otherwise, unless a conditional use permit specifically allows more. The one built-in exception raises that limit to one-quarter foot-candle, but only at the shared line between two parcels that are both located within a commercial or industrial zone. 3 backs up the numeric cap with a shielding rule: all outdoor light fixtures must be fully shielded or full cut-off, meaning the light source itself is not visible from adjacent property, with narrow carve-outs for decorative string lights and for recreational-facility lighting where shielding would impair visibility for the activity.
4 adds a general glare-prevention duty on top of the numeric cap: every light must be selected, directed, and oriented to prevent spillover and glare onto adjacent properties, and no unobstructed beam of exterior light may be directed off the site at all. 1 foot-candle limit before installation, though residential and owner-installed lighting is not required to submit photometrics unless the director asks for them.
Violations & Fines
A fixture that pushes more than 0.1 foot-candle across a property line, or that is not fully shielded as required, is an outdoor lighting violation the county can enforce under Title 17's enforcement chapter, requiring the fixture to be redirected, re-shielded, or removed regardless of when it was installed.
Frequently Asked Questions
How bright can my outdoor lighting be at my neighbor's property line?
Do outdoor lights need shields in Calaveras County?
Do I need a photometric plan to install outdoor lighting?
Sources & Official References
Other rules in Calaveras County
California rules heatmap·Compare Calaveras County to another location·View the California outdoor lighting overview
See something wrong?
Help us keep this page accurate. If you notice an error or outdated information, let us know.