6.4 Residential Outdoor Lighting Requirements

All lighting permanently attached to the residence or to other buildings on the same lot are subject to the outdoor lighting requirements. This includes lighting for patios, entrances, balconies, and porches.

Lighting not permanently attached to a building on a single-family site, such as decorative landscape lighting, is not regulated by the residential lighting requirements. High luminous efficacy lighting and controls such as a time clock or photocontrol will save energy and ensure that lighting is not accidentally left on during daylight hours.

6.4.1 Outdoor Luminaires

All lighting must be high luminous efficacy. Table 150.0-A lists all qualifying high luminous efficacy luminaires and light sources. Outdoor LED luminaires and LED light sources installed outdoors are automatically classified as high luminous efficacy and are not required to comply with JA8.

6.4.2 Outdoor Lighting Controls

All lighting must be controlled by a manual ON and OFF control switch and one of the following automatic control types:

1. Photocontrol and either a motion sensor or an automatic time switch control.
2. Astronomical time clock control.

Any override that keeps the above automatic controls on must return to automatic control operations within six hours.

6.4.3 Internally Illuminated Address Signs

Internally illuminated address signs shall consume no more than 5 watts of power, or shall comply the with nonresidential sign lighting requirements in ยง140.8.


Example 6-12: Outdoor lighting: glare control

Question

Are there luminaire cutoff requirements for residential outdoor luminaires?

Answer

There are no luminaire cutoff requirements for residential outdoor lighting. Even though not required for most residential outdoor lighting, luminaires that limit uplight are usually more efficient at providing lighting in the required area, allowing a lower wattage luminaire to be used. Backlight, uplight, and glare requirements also reduce stray light and glare problems which can cause visual discomfort.

Example 6-13: Outdoor lighting: landscape lighting

Question

I would like to install low-voltage landscape lighting in my yard. Are these required to be controlled by a motion sensor and photocontrol?

Answer

No. The lighting requirements only apply to lighting that is attached to a building or structure. However, using photocontrols or astronomical time clock controls can save energy by ensuring that landscape lighting is not left on during daylight hours.

This panel displays referenced content when certain links are clicked.

This program is funded by California utility customers and administered by Pacific Gas and Electric Company (PG&E), San Diego Gas & Electric Company (SDG&E®), and Southern California Edison Company (SCE) under the auspices of the California Public Utilities Commission.

© 2024 PG&E, SDG&E and SCE. All rights reserved, except that this content may be used, copied, and distributed without modification. Neither PG&E, SDG&E, nor SCE — nor any of their employees makes any warranty, express of implied; or assumes any legal liability or responsibility for the accuracy, completeness or usefulness of any data, information, method, product, policy or process disclosed in this document; or represents that its use will not infringe any privately-owned rights including, but not limited to patents, trademarks or copyrights.