San Bernardino County, CA Sign Regulations: Holiday Displays (2026)
Key Facts
- Window
- 30 days before and after holiday
- Governing chapter
- Development Code Ch. 83.07
- Status if in window
- Exempt from lighting standards
- Applies to
- Unincorporated county area only
Summary
In unincorporated San Bernardino County, holiday lighting is exempt from the county's outdoor lighting rules only if it goes up no more than 30 days before a holiday and comes down within 30 days after it.
SEASONAL LIGHTING. Temporary lighting displays installed and operated on a property, typically in connection with holidays or traditions. Lighting shall not be considered seasonal if the lighting display is installed or operated more than 30 days prior to a holiday or tradition, or more than 30 days after the holiday or tradition. SKY GLOW. The brightening of the nighttime sky that results from scattering and reflection of artificial light by air molecules, moisture and dust particles in the atmosphere. Sky glow is caused by light directed or reflected upwards or sideways. STRING LIGHTS. Outdoor light fixtures or light source connected by free- strung wires or inside of tubing resulting in several or many points of light that are unshielded or partly shielded light sources. (Ord. 4419, passed - -2021) § 83.07.040 Applicability.
(a) Application. Except as provided in subdivision (c), the provision of this chapter shall apply to all outdoor lighting in the valley region, as specified in § 83.07.050, and mountain and desert regions, as specified in §
Full Breakdown
The Development Code's Glare and Outdoor Lighting chapter (83.07) defines 'Seasonal Lighting' as a temporary display tied to a holiday or tradition, and it stops qualifying as seasonal once it's installed more than 30 days before that holiday or left up more than 30 days after it. Section 83.07.040(c)(10) exempts seasonal lighting outright from the chapter's shielding, foot-candle, and color-temperature limits that otherwise govern string lights and outdoor fixtures. Push a display outside that roughly 60-day window and it loses the exemption and must meet the full valley or mountain-and-desert lighting standards instead.
Violations & Fines
Lighting left up beyond the 30-days-after cutoff loses its 'seasonal' status and must comply with Chapter 83.07's shielding, foot-candle, and Kelvin limits; code enforcement can order fixtures removed or retrofitted.
Frequently Asked Questions
Do I need a permit for holiday lights in unincorporated San Bernardino County?
What happens if I leave my holiday lights up too long?
Sources & Official References
Other rules in San Bernardino County
California rules heatmap·Compare San Bernardino County to another location·View the California sign regulations overview
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