Outdoor lighting in Kern County: the local rules

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

What Kern County's code says

Kern County code What Kern County's code adds
Brightness or color limit	At most 60 watts or 750 lumens per fixture, whichever is less. Applies: Low-voltage landscape lights not on poles or buildings, shielded against glare and spillover. § 19.81.040 · code text such lighting is limited to fixtures utilizing a maximum of sixty (60) watts (or seven hundred fifty (750) lumens, whichever is or less), per fixture Under 100 watts and under 1,600 lumens per fixture. Applies: Uplighting of architectural features, with no glare or off-site spillover. § 19.81.040 · code text shall utilize less than one hundred (100) watts and shall emit less than one thousand six hundred (1,600) lumens per fixture.
Fixture height	At most 20 feet tall. Applies: Freestanding lights in residential zones (E, R-1, R-2, R-3) or within 25 feet of an existing single-family home. § 19.81.040 · code text Freestanding Lighting \| 20 feet tall \| 30 feet tall \| As approved by the Planning Director No taller than the structure. Applies: Attached lights in residential zones (E, R-1, R-2, R-3) or within 25 feet of an existing single-family home. § 19.81.040 · code text Attached Lighting \| Shall not exceed height of structure \| Shall not exceed height of structure \| Shall not exceed height of structure
Light at the property line	No light emitted above horizontal may cross the property line. Applies: Lights aimed at a structure; the fixture must be fully shielded with no glare visible off site. § 19.81.040 · code text the fixture is fully shielded so that none of the light which is emitted above the horizontal plane crosses over the property line of the parcel where the subject light is located.
Shielding	Must be fully shielded. Applies: Fixtures using 100 watts or more, or giving 1,600 lumens or more. § 19.81.040 · code text All outdoor lighting fixtures which utilize one hundred (100) watts or more (based on an incandescent bulb), or emit one thousand six hundred (1,600) lumens or more per fixture, shall be fully shielded per the definition listed in this chapter, unless the fixture is exempted by this chapter. Must be at least partly shielded. Applies: Floodlights using under 100 watts per fixture. § 19.81.040 · code text All floodlights which utilize less than one hundred (100) watts per fixture must be at least partially shielded to reduce light spillover onto adjacent properties. Bulbs must point downward. Applies: All fixtures, except allowed accent uplighting of architectural features and objects, and flag lighting. § 19.81.040 · code text Additionally, the light source (bulb) within all lighting fixtures shall be oriented downward to prevent direct uplighting, except as permitted by Section 19.81.040(F).

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Frequently asked questions

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

Kern County's code: Must be fully shielded. (Fixtures using 100 watts or more, or giving 1,600 lumens or more.) (§ 19.81.040); No light emitted above horizontal may cross the property line. (Lights aimed at a structure; the fixture must be fully shielded with no glare visible off site.) (§ 19.81.040).

Outdoor lighting in Kern County

What Kern County's code says

Who this affects

Frequently asked questions

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