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No statewide law

California

Last checked October 29, 2026

By Peter Benes and Adrienne Kmetz, editors. Updated October 29, 2026.

California has no dark-sky statute. Statewide rules come from the Title 24 building codes: for nonresidential, high-rise residential and hotel/motel buildings, outdoor luminaires of 6,200 lumens or more must meet backlight, uplight and glare limits, and outdoor lights need daylight shutoff, schedule dimming and, at 24 feet or lower, motion sensing. Signs, facades, and road lighting are exempt. Counties write the stricter dark-sky rules.

StatuteCitationYear
Building Energy Efficiency Standards: outdoor lighting controls and equipment (BUG ratings, shutoff and motion controls; 2019 edition reviewed)Cal. Code Regs. tit. 24, pt. 6, § 130.2
CALGreen: light pollution reduction (BUG ratings by lighting zone; local ordinance may be stricter)Cal. Code Regs. tit. 24, pt. 11, § 5.106.8

Municipal codes

  • San Diego County, CA: The Outdoor Light Control Ordinance (County Light Pollution Code) protects Palomar and Mount Laguna observatories. Zone A covers a 15-mile radius around them: low-pressure sodium and similar lamps above 4,050 lumens are prohibited for most uses, and Class I and III lighting must be off from 11 p.m. to sunrise. Amended in 2009 and 2020.
  • Malibu, CA: Local dark-sky protection lighting standards restrict fixture type and glare citywide.

Certified dark sky places in California

Bringing your own outdoor lighting up to the same standard? See Dark-Sky Friendly Outdoor Lighting.

Sources