What are the outdoor lighting rules for homes in Ventura County?

Ventura County's code: Fully shielded and aimed downward. (Only lighting covered by the county's outdoor lighting section.) (§ 8177-4.1.11.5); No more than 0.1 foot-candles of light trespass. (At the edge of the building site, vertical and horizontal planes; only lighting covered by the county's outdoor lighting section.) (§ 8177-4.1.11.5).

Outdoor lighting in Ventura County: the local rules

Ventura County code What Ventura County's code adds
When lights must be off	Lights off from 10:00 p.m. until sunrise, or until no one is outside, whichever is later. Applies: Only lighting covered by the county's outdoor lighting section. § 8177-4.1.11.5 · code text Outdoor lighting shall be turned off from 10:00 p.m. until sunrise, or when people are no longer present in exterior areas being illuminated, whichever is the latest. Security lights may stay on all night. Applies: When under 850 lumens with no light trespass past the building site; only lighting covered by the county's outdoor lighting section. § 8177-4.1.11.5 · code text Security lighting may remain on through dark hours when the light fixture output is less than eight hundred fifty (850) lumens and light trespass does not occur beyond the building site pursuant to subsection (c)(1) above.
Brightness or color limit	Under 60 lumens, such as solar lights or reflectors. Applies: Private driveways or access roads; only lighting covered by the county's outdoor lighting section. § 8177-4.1.11.5 · code text Private driveways or access roads shall use solar lights, reflectors, or other low lumen options (under sixty (60) lumens) for safe passage. At most 100 lumens per fixture. Applies: Walkway lighting; only lighting covered by the county's outdoor lighting section. § 8177-4.1.11.5 · code text Walkway lighting shall have a maximum output of one hundred (100) lumens per light fixture. At most 850 lumens. Applies: All other lighting; only lighting covered by the county's outdoor lighting section. § 8177-4.1.11.5 · code text All other lighting shall have a maximum output of eight hundred fifty (850) lumens. Color temperature no higher than 2,700 Kelvin. Applies: Each outdoor fixture except security lights; only lighting covered by the county's outdoor lighting section. § 8177-4.1.11.5 · code text The correlated color temperature of each outdoor light fixture, except those used for security lighting (see Section 8177-4.1.11.5(h)),shall not exceed two thousand seven hundred (2,700) Kelvin. At most 2,600 lumens per fixture. Applies: Security lighting; only lighting covered by the county's outdoor lighting section. § 8177-4.1.11.5 · code text Security lighting shall not exceed a maximum output of two thousand six hundred (2,600) lumens per light fixture.
Fixture height	No higher than 2 feet above ground level. Applies: Freestanding walkway or hardscape lights; only lighting covered by the county's outdoor lighting section. § 8177-4.1.11.5 · code text Freestanding light fixtures used to light walkways, or hardscaping shall be located no higher than two (2) feet above ground level. No higher than the fence or 6 feet, whichever is less. Applies: Fixtures attached to fences; only lighting covered by the county's outdoor lighting section. § 8177-4.1.11.5 · code text In cases where light fixtures are affixed to fences, the top of the fixture shall not be higher than the height of the fence or greater than six (6) feet, whichever is less. No higher than 20 feet above ground level. Applies: All other freestanding fixtures; only lighting covered by the county's outdoor lighting section. § 8177-4.1.11.5 · code text All other freestanding light fixtures shall be no higher than twenty (20) feet above ground level.
Light at the property line	No more than 0.1 foot-candles of light trespass. Applies: At the edge of the building site, vertical and horizontal planes; only lighting covered by the county's outdoor lighting section. § 8177-4.1.11.5 · code text All outdoor light fixtures shall be fully shielded, directed downward, and installed and maintained in such a manner to avoid light trespass in excess of 0.1 foot-candles at the vertical plane and the horizontal plane at the edge of the building site.
Shielding	Fully shielded and aimed downward. Applies: Only lighting covered by the county's outdoor lighting section. § 8177-4.1.11.5 · code text All outdoor light fixtures shall be fully shielded, directed downward, and installed and maintained in such a manner to avoid light trespass in excess of 0.1 foot-candles at the vertical plane and the horizontal plane at the edge of the building site.

Outdoor lighting in Ventura County

What Ventura County's code says

Who this affects

Frequently asked questions

Ask about a specific Ventura County property

More on building on your lot in Ventura County