No statewide law
California
Last checked 2026-09-23
California has no general statewide light pollution or dark-sky statute; outdoor lighting is regulated through Title 24 energy-efficiency building code provisions and, more specifically, through county and city ordinances. Protection of Palomar and Lick observatories comes from San Diego County and Santa Clara/San Benito County lighting ordinances rather than state law.
Municipal codes
- San Diego County, CA: A light pollution code (County Code, private outdoor lighting regulations) limits shielding, lumens, and curfews near Palomar Observatory.
- Malibu, CA: Local dark-sky protection lighting standards restrict fixture type and glare citywide.