Outdoor lighting in Claremont: the local rules

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

What Claremont's code says

Claremont code What Claremont's code adds
Fixture height	At most 14 feet above adjacent grade. Applies: Single-family homes and districts; lights on a wall or structure, except those for second-story entries, balconies or outside stairs. § 16.154.030 · code text No outdoor lighting fixtures for a single-family home or in any Single-Family Residential Districts shall be mounted more than 14 feet above adjacent grade on any wall or structure except when used to illuminate a second-story entryway, balcony, or outside stairway, in which case the fixture shall not be higher than eight feet above the floor of the second story. At most 8 feet above the second-story floor. Applies: Single-family homes; lights for a second-story entryway, balcony or outside stairway. § 16.154.030 · code text in which case the fixture shall not be higher than eight feet above the floor of the second story. At most 8 feet above adjacent grade. Applies: Pole-mounted lights in single-family residential development. § 16.154.030 · code text No outdoor lighting fixture in any single-family residential development shall be mounted more than eight feet above adjacent grade on any pole.
Light at the property line	No more than 0.5 footcandles at the property line. Applies: Indirect light on neighboring residential properties or uses, measured from grade up to 14 feet high. § 16.154.030 · code text Any indirect illumination of neighboring residential properties or uses shall not exceed 0.5 footcandles at the property line as measured horizontally and vertically from adjacent grade to a height of 14 feet.
Shielding	Light must stay on the property, with diffusing lenses or shielding hiding bulbs from public rights-of-way and abutting homes. Applies: Exempt: incandescent bulbs of 100 watts or less, with no more than 2 bulbs or 200 watts per fixture. § 16.154.030 · code text All outdoor lighting fixtures shall have prismatic diffusing lenses and/or appropriate shielding so the light source is not directly visible from the public right-of-way or abutting residential properties. Direct light must point down into the interior of the lot. Applies: Medium Density Residential (RM) districts. § 16.154.030 · code text Outdoor lighting for properties located within the RM (Medium Density Residential) Districts shall be designed, installed, and maintained so that direct rays of light are directed downward into the interior of the lot.

Who this affects

HomeownersContractorsDesigners

Frequently asked questions

What are the outdoor lighting rules for homes in Claremont?

Claremont's code: Light must stay on the property, with diffusing lenses or shielding hiding bulbs from public rights-of-way and abutting homes. (Exempt: incandescent bulbs of 100 watts or less, with no more than 2 bulbs or 200 watts per fixture.) (§ 16.154.030); No more than 0.5 footcandles at the property line. (Indirect light on neighboring residential properties or uses, measured from grade up to 14 feet high.) (§ 16.154.030).

Outdoor lighting in Claremont

What Claremont's code says

Who this affects

Frequently asked questions

Ask about a specific Claremont property

More on building on your lot in Claremont