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Outdoor lighting in Elk Grove

Elk Grove's own rules on outdoor lighting, with the code text for every value.

Each rule below links to the section of the Elk Grove Municipal Code it was read from, with the code text one click away (checked October 2026). General information, not legal advice.

What Elk Grove's code says

Elk Grove code What Elk Grove's code adds
When lights must be off
  • Lights off by automatic timer from 10:00 p.m. to 6:00 a.m. every day.
    Applies: Freestanding fixtures over 12 feet, allowed only by minor design review, at single-unit and two-unit homes.
    § 23.56.040 · code text
    All freestanding lighting fixtures exceeding a height of 12 feet (12' 0") shall be full cutoff (no light above ninety (90) degrees) and require automatic timing devices with off hours between 10:00 p.m. and 6:00 a.m. every day.
Brightness or color limit
  • Bulbs no brighter than 1,600 lumens.
    Applies: Attached exterior light fixtures, unless the fixture is full cutoff.
    § 23.56.040 · code text
    Bulbs installed in attached exterior lighting fixtures may not exceed one thousand six hundred (1,600) lumens unless the light fixture is full cutoff.
  • No more than 1,600 lumens.
    Applies: Freestanding exterior light fixtures.
    § 23.56.040 · code text
    Except as otherwise set forth in this section, freestanding exterior lighting fixtures shall be full cutoff, shall not exceed a height of 12 feet (12' 0") feet, and shall not exceed one thousand six hundred (1,600) lumens.
  • String lights with bulbs of 140 lumens or less are exempt from the lighting standards.
    Applies: Outdoor string lighting.
    § 23.56.040 · code text
    Outdoor string lighting with bulbs not exceeding one hundred forty (140) lumens per bulb.
Fixture height
  • No taller than 12 feet.
    Applies: Freestanding exterior fixtures at single-unit and two-unit homes.
    § 23.56.040 · code text
    Except as otherwise set forth in this section, freestanding exterior lighting fixtures shall be full cutoff, shall not exceed a height of 12 feet (12' 0") feet, and shall not exceed one thousand six hundred (1,600) lumens.
  • Up to 20 feet.
    Applies: Freestanding exterior fixtures taller than 12 feet need minor design review approval.
    § 23.56.040 · code text
    Freestanding exterior lighting fixtures with a height between 12 feet (12' 0") and 20 feet (20' 0") may be approved through minor design review with the submittal of a point-by-point photometric calculation listing the number, type, height, and level of illumination of all outdoor lighting fixtures.
Light at the property line
  • No more than 0.1 foot-candle at any shared property line.
    Applies: Freestanding fixtures between 12 and 20 feet tall approved through minor design review.
    § 23.56.040 · code text
    In such cases, illumination measured at any shared property line shall not exceed the moon’s potential ambient illumination of one-tenth (0.1 fc) foot-candle.
Shielding
  • Full cutoff fixtures.
    Applies: Freestanding exterior fixtures at single-unit and two-unit homes.
    § 23.56.040 · code text
    Except as otherwise set forth in this section, freestanding exterior lighting fixtures shall be full cutoff, shall not exceed a height of 12 feet (12' 0") feet, and shall not exceed one thousand six hundred (1,600) lumens.

Who this affects

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Frequently asked questions

What are the outdoor lighting rules for homes in Elk Grove?

Elk Grove's code: Full cutoff fixtures. (Freestanding exterior fixtures at single-unit and two-unit homes.) (§ 23.56.040); No more than 0.1 foot-candle at any shared property line. (Freestanding fixtures between 12 and 20 feet tall approved through minor design review.) (§ 23.56.040).

General information, not legal advice.

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