Light Pollution Ordinance

About the Program

Category: Community and Economic Development (Best in Category)

Year: 2021

Amendments to the light pollution chapter of the County of San Diego’szoning ordinance helped specific communities meet International Dark-Sky Association's (IDA) standards and qualify as International Dark-Sky Communities (IDSC).The zoning ordinance’s light pollution chapter consisted of Zones A and B within the unincorporated county. Each zone had different outdoor lighting standards. Zone A encompasses a 15-mile radius area around the Palomar and Mount Laguna astronomical observatories and included additional shielding and other lighting restrictions than in Zone B. There are three different light classifications within the light pollution chapter: commercial lighting, safety and security lighting, and decorative and aesthetic lighting. Zones A and B have different requirements within each class, with Zone A being the more protective of night skies.Our new amendments established a new Zone C applicable to specific communities to help them attain IDSC status. The adopted changes included new lighting standards to decrease light pollution by regulating light shielding, light levels, light color and sign illumination. The amendments provided residents and businesses a 10-year grace period to comply with Zone C standards and a five-year grace period to bring County-owned lighting into compliance with the new standards.