Lighting Ordinance Update
City Council
Kelly Cha, Senior Planner
December 8, 2025 www.PaloAlto.gov
2 Purpose
• Council Priority: Climate Change & Natural Environment “Initiate an evaluation of strategies to protect natural habitats such as bird safe glass and wildlife protection from light pollution.” • Consistent with Dark Sky principles, which is an effort to turn back the sky to its natural dark sky to the extent feasible by reducing light pollution.
3 Dark Sky Lighting Principles
USEFUL Use light only if it is needed
TARGETED Direct light so it falls only where it is needed LOW LEVEL Light should be no brighter than necessary
CONTROLLED Use light only when it is needed
WARM-COLORED Use warmer color lights where possible
© 2025 DarkSky International
4 City Council Direction from April 2025
• Existing Lighting Compliance Requirements:
• Include different deadlines for residential and nonresidential properties • Add exceptions for undue financial burden and special security concerns. • Modifications to regulations including:
• Apply to replacement of existing outdoor lighting fixtures, or changing the lighting type or system.
• Reduce maximum light spillage to 0.1 foot candle.
• Extend lighting curfew to midnight, including holiday lighting. • Increased efforts to raise awareness to support compliance. 5 Areas of Special Security Concerns
• City Council requested for an exception for special security concerned areas. • Staff recommends adding an exemption for the Edgewood neighborhood instead:
• Neighborhood’s unique characteristics, including close proximity to a creek and bordering another jurisdiction.
• No particularly high crime areas designated in the City. 6 Additional Engagement
Comments received through focused outreach meeting with Palo Alto businesses:
Concerns regarding retrofitting existing lighting to comply with ordinance. • Policy consideration for Council – in April 2025, direction provided to staff to require phased compliance.
• Sierra Club has recently modified their view on this provision. 6 Additional Engagement (continued)
Comments received through focused outreach meeting with Palo Alto businesses:
Concerns over employee safety and compliance with Federal Occupational Safety and Health Administration (OSHA) workplace regulations.
• Lighting curfew "at midnight, 2 hours after close of business, orwhen people are no longer present in exterior areas, whichever is later."
• Exceptions for Lighting Control section already address their concern:
• 18.40.250(e)(4)(D) Exceptions for Lighting Control.
"(i) Any lighting at building entrances, parking areas, walkways, and driveways area" (applies to residential and commercial properties) • Conflict precedence provision on State or Federal laws. 7 Modification – Exemptions (18.40.250(d))
(d) Exemptions.
(1) Full Exemptions. The following are fully exempt:
(A) Lighting for emergency personnel;
(B) Lighting authorized by a special event permit, special or temporary use permit, or construction permit; (C) Lighting for Airport Operations. Nothing in this section shall be interpreted to restrict, limit, or otherwise regulate lighting that, in the reasonable judgment of the Airport Manager, is prudent or necessary for airport operations, airport safety, or air navigation in connection with operations at the Palo Alto Municipal Airport;
(D) Lighting for streets, roadways, and public walkways and bikeways. (E) Lighting for Public Facilities Operations. Nothing in this section shall be interpreted to restrict, limit, or otherwise regulate lighting that, in the reasonable judgment of the City Manager, is prudent or necessary for operations or safety of public facilities that operate on a 24 hours per day, 7 days a week basis. [Note: Items (D) and (E) are already incorporated into the draft ordinance] 8 Minor Modification – Exemptions (18.40.250(d))
Continued...
(2) Conditional Exemptions. The following are exempt subject to specific conditions:
(A) Illuminated street numbers, subject to Section 18.40.250(g). (B) Seasonal lighting during the period of October 15 through January 15 of each year, subject to extinguishment at 12:00 a.m.
(C) Single family residential sites adjacent to San Francisquito Creek and fronting on Edgewood Drive if the portion of the site subject to a permanent easement in favor of the Santa Clara Valley Water District (or its successor in interest) for flood control purposes is reconfigured after January 1, 2002. These sites shall be subject to the requirements under, subject to Sections 18.40.250(g) and Section 18.40.250(e)(4)(A). (D) Lighting for Emergency Shelters. Lighting for emergency shelters, shall be subject to PAMC 18.14.060. 9 Next Steps
• Adoption of the ordinance
• Second reading (consent item) required for ordinances • Effective on the 31st day of the second reading
• Community resources
• Project webpage update (www.PaloAlto.org/OutdoorLighting) • Educational materials to increase awareness to support compliance
KELL Y CHA
Senior Planner
[email protected]
(650) 329-2155
Lighting Ordinance Update
PaloAlto.Gov/OutdoorLighting