Welcome to the 2025 Reference Ace Beta

Should you find any issues, please let us know using the contact form on the right of the page. Thank you!

Section 160.5 - MANDATORY LIGHTING REQUIREMENTS FOR INDOOR AND OUTDOOR SPACES

The design and installation of all lighting systems and equipment in multifamily buildings within the scope of Section 100.0(a) shall comply with the applicable provisions of Section 160.5. All functional areas except dwelling units and common living areas shall comply with the applicable requirements of Sections 160.5(b) through 160.5(e).

(a) Dwelling Unit Lighting.

The design and installation of all lighting systems and equipment in multifamily dwelling units shall comply with Section 160.5(a). Multifamily dwelling units include dormitory and senior housing dwelling accommodations. Outdoor lighting attached to multifamily buildings and controlled from the inside of a dwelling unit shall comply with the lighting requirements of Section 160.5(a).

1. Luminaire requirements.
A. Luminaire Efficacy. All installed luminaires and light sources shall  comply with Reference Joint Appendix JA8 and shall be certified and marked as required by JA8.

Exception 1 to Section 160.5(a)1A: Integrated device lightingLighting integral to exhaust fans, kitchen range hoods, bath vanity mirrors, garage door openers, and ceiling fan kits that are subject to DOE's Appliance and Equipment Standards Program.

Exception 2 to Section 160.5(a)1A: Navigation Lighting rated less than five watts, such as: night lights, step lights, and path lights 

Exception 3 to Section 160.5(a)1A: Lighting with an efficacy of 45 lumens per watt or greater and located internal to drawers, cabinetry, and linen closets.

Exception 4 to Section 160.5(a)1A: Light sources as follows:

i.    LED light sources installed outdoors;

ii.   Inseparable solid state lighting (SSL) luminaires. Screw based containing colored light sources that are installed to provide decorative lighting;

iii.   High intensity discharge (HID) light sources including pulse start metal halide and high pressure sodium light sources; and

iv.   Luminaires with hardwired high frequency generator and induction lamp B.    


B. Reserved
C. Recessed downlight luminaires. In addition to complying with Section 160.5(a)1A, luminaires recessed into ceilings shall meet all of the following requirements:
i. Shall not contain screw base lamp sockets; and
ii. Have a label that certifies the luminaire is airtight with air leakage less than 2.0 cfm at 75 Pascals when tested in accordance with ASTM E283. An exhaust fan housing with integral light shall not be required to be certified airtight; and
iii. Be sealed with a gasket or caulk between the luminaire housing and ceiling, and have all air leak paths between conditioned and unconditioned spaces sealed with a gasket or caulk, or be installed per manufacturer’s instructions to maintain airtightness between the luminaire housing and ceiling; and
iv. Meet the clearance and installation requirements of California Electrical Code Article 410.116 for recessed luminaires.

Exception to Section 160.5(a)1Cii and Iii: Recessed luminaires marked for use in fire-rated installations, and recessed luminaires installed in noninsulated ceilings.
D. Light sources in enclosed or recessed luminaires. Lamps and other separable light sources in enclosed or recessed luminaires shall be in compliance with the JA8 elevated temperature requirements, including marking requirements.

E. Blank electrical boxes. The number of electrical boxes that are more than 5 feet above the finished floor and do not contain a luminaire or other device shall be no greater than the number of bedrooms. These electrical boxes shall be served by a dimmer, vacancy sensor control, low voltage wiring or fan speed control.
2. Indoor lighting controls.
A. Lighting shall have readily accessible wall-mounted controls that allow the lighting to be manually turned ON and OFF.

Exception to Section 160.5(a)2A: Ceiling fans may provide control of integrated lighting via a remote control.
B.  Reserved
C. All lighting controls. Lighting controls shall comply with the applicable requirements of Section 110.9.

D. Controls permitted. An Energy Management Control System (EMCS) or a multi-scene programmable controller may be used to comply with dimming, occupancy, and lighting control requirements in Section 160.5(a)2 if it provides the functionality of the specified controls in accordance with Section 110.9, and the physical controls specified in in Section 160.5(a)2A.  No controls shall bypass control functions of a dimmer, occupant sensor, or vacancy sensor where the dimmer or sensor has been installed to comply with Section 160.5(a)2.
E. Automatic off controls.

i. In bathrooms, garages, laundry rooms, utility rooms, and walk-in closets, at least one installed luminaire shall be controlled by an occupancy or vacancy sensor providing automatic-off functionality. 

ii. For lighting internal to drawers and cabinetry with opaque fronts or doors, controls that turn the lighting off when the drawer or door is closed shall be provided.

F. Dimming controls. Lighting in habitable spaces, including living rooms, dining rooms, kitchens, and bedrooms, shall have readily accessible wall-mounted dimming controls that allow the lighting to be manually adjusted up and down. Forward phase cut dimmers controlling LED light sources shall comply with NEMA SSL 7A.

Exception 1 to Section 160.5(a)2F: Ceiling fans may provide control of integrated lighting via a remote control. Lighting integral to kitchen range hoods and bathroom exhaust fans.
Exception 2 to Section 160.5(a)2F: Luminaires controlled by an occupancy or vacancy sensor providing automatic-off functionality.
Exception 3 to Section 160.5(a)2F: Navigation lighting rated less than five watts, such as night lights, step lights and path lights. Lighting controlled by automatic-off controls and located internal to drawers, cabinetry with opaque fronts, or cabinetry with doors.
G. Independent controls. Lighting integrated with the exhaust fans shall be controlled independently from the fans. The following shall be controlled separately from ceiling-installed lighting such that one can be turned on without turning on the other:

i. Undercabinet lighting
ii. Undershelf lighting
iii. Interior lighting of display cabinets
iv. Switched outlets
3. Outdoor lighting controls. In addition to meeting the requirements of Section 160.5(a)1, luminaires providing residential outdoor lighting shall meet the following requirements, as applicable:
A. Outdoor lighting attached to a building and separately controlled from the inside of a dwelling unit, shall meet the following requirements:
i. Controlled by a manual ON and OFF control switch that permits the automatic actions of item ii or iii below; and
ii. Controlled by one of the following controls:

     a,  a photocell and a motion sensor; or

     b.  a photocell and an automatic time switch control; or

iii. Controlled by an astronomical time clock control.
B. Controls that override to ON shall not be allowed unless the override automatically returns the automatic control to its normal operation within 6 hours. 

C. An energy management control system (EMCS) or other controls that provides the specified lighting control functionality and complies with all requirements applicable to the specified controls may be used to meet these requirements.

(b) Common services area lighting. Lighting systems and equipment in multifamily common services areas shall comply with the applicable provisions of Sections 160.5(b)1 through 160.5(b)4.

Exception to Section 160.5(b): Lighting systems in common use areas providing shared provisions for living, eating, cooking, or sanitation to dwelling units that would otherwise lack these provisions may instead comply with Section 160.5(a).

Note: The requirements of Section 160.5(b) apply to newly constructed buildings. Sections 180.1 and 180.2 specify which requirements of Sections 160.5(b)1 through 160.5(e) also apply to additions and alterations to existing buildings.

1. Luminaire classification and power. Luminaires shall be classified and their wattage determined as follows:
A. Luminaire wattage shall be labeled as follows:
i. The maximum rated wattage or relamping rated wattage of a luminaire shall be listed on a permanent, preprinted, factory-installed label, as specified by UL 1574, 1598, 2108, or 8750, as applicable; and
ii. The factory-installed maximum rated wattage or relamping rated wattage label shall not consist of peel-off or peel-down layers or other methods that allow the rated wattage to be changed after the luminaire has been shipped from the manufacturer.

Exception to Section 160.5(b)1Aii: Luminaires with a single lamp and an integrated ballast or transformer may use a peel-down label provided that they are layered such that the rated wattage reduces as successive layers are removed.
a. Low-voltage luminaires (except low voltage track systems), ≤ 24 volts, with a maximum relamping rated wattage of 50 watts.
b. Compact fluorescent luminaires, having an integral electronic ballast, with a maximum relamping rated wattage of 42 watts.
c. High intensity discharge luminaires, having an integral electronic ballast, with a maximum relamping rated wattage of 150 watts.
B. For luminaires with line voltage lamps not served by drivers, ballasts, or transformers, the wattage of such luminaires shall be determined as the maximum rated wattage as labeled in accordance with Section 160.5(b)1A.
C. For luminaires with permanently installed or remotely installed ballasts, the wattage of such luminaires shall be the operating input wattage of the rated lamp/ballast combination published in the ballast manufacturer’s catalogs based on independent testing lab reports as specified by UL 1598.
D. For inseparable SSL luminaires and SSL luminaires with remotely mounted drivers, the maximum rated wattage shall be the maximum rated input wattage of the SSL luminaire as specified in Section 160.5(b)1A when tested in accordance with UL 1598, 2108, or 8750, or IES LM-79.
E. For LED tape lighting and LED linear lighting with LED tape lighting components, the maximum rated wattage shall be the sum of the installed length of the tape lighting times its rated linear power density in watts per linear foot, or the maximum rated input wattage of the driver or power supply providing power to the lighting system, with tape lighting tested in accordance with UL 2108 or 8750, or IES LM-79.
F. For modular lighting systems that allow the addition or relocation of luminaires without altering the wiring of the system, wattage shall be determined as follows:

i. The wattage shall be the greater of:
a. 30 watts per linear foot of track or plug-in busway; or
b. the rated wattage of all of the luminaires included in the system, where the luminaire wattage is determined as specified in Section 160.5(b)1A; or
ii. For line-voltage lighting track and plug-in busway served by a track lighting integral current limiter or a dedicated track lighting supplementary overcurrent protection panel, the wattage shall be determined as follows:
a. The volt-ampere rating of current limiter as specified by UL 1077; or
b. The sum of the ampere (A) rating of all of the current protection devices times the branch circuit voltages for track lighting supplementary overcurrent protection panel.
iii. For other modular lighting systems with power supplied by a driver, power supply or transformer, including but not limited to low-voltage lighting systems, the wattage of the system shall be the maximum rated input wattage of the driver, power supply or transformer published in the manufacturer’s catalogs, as specified by UL 2108 or 8750.

Exception to Section 160.5(b)1F: For power-over-Ethernet lighting systems, power provided to installed nonlighting devices may be subtracted from the total power rating of the power-over-Ethernet system.

G. For all other lighting equipment not addressed by Sections 160.5(b)1B through F, the wattage of the lighting equipment shall be the maximum rated wattage of the lighting equipment, or operating input wattage of the system, labeled in accordance with Section 160.5(b)1A, or published in manufacturer’s catalogs, based on independent testing lab reports as specified by UL 1574, 1598, 2108, 8750, or IES LM-79.
2. Lighting controls. All lighting controls and equipment shall comply with the applicable requirements in Sections 110.9160.5(b) and 160.5(c), and shall be installed in accordance with any applicable manufacturer instructions.
3. Energy Management Control System (EMCS). An EMCS may be installed to comply with the requirements of one or more lighting controls if it meets the following minimum requirements:
A. Provides all applicable functionality for each specific lighting control or system for which it is installed in accordance with Sections 110.9160.5(b) and 160.5(c); and
B. Complies with all applicable Lighting Control Installation Requirements in accordance with Section 160.5(e) for each specific lighting control or system for which it is installed; and
C. Complies with all applicable application requirements for each specific lighting control or system for which it is installed, in accordance with Part 6.
4. Mandatory indoor lighting controls. Multifamily common use areas shall comply with the applicable requirements of Sections 160.5(b)4A through 160.5(b)4F, in addition to the applicable requirements of Section 110.9.
A. Manual area controls. Each space shall be provided with lighting controls that allow the lighting in that space to be manually turned on and off. The manual control shall:
i. Be readily accessible; and

Exception to Section 160.5(b)4Ai: Restrooms having two or more stalls, parking areas, stairwells, corridors, and spaces of the building intended for access or use by the public may use a manual control not accessible to unauthorized personnel.
ii. Be located in the same space or be located such that the controlled lighting or the status of the controlled lighting can be seen when operating the controls; and
iii.   Provide separate control of general, floor display, wall display, window display, case display, ornamental, and special effects lighting, such that each type of lighting can be turned on or off without turning on or off other types of lighting. Scene controllers may comply with this requirement provided that at least one scene turns on general lighting only, and the control provides a means to manually turn off all lighting.

Exception to Section 160.5(b)4A: Up to 0.1 watts per square foot of indoor lighting may be continuously illuminated to allow for means of egress illumination consistent with California Building Code Section 1008. Egress lighting complying with this wattage limitation is not required to comply with manual area control requirements if:

i. The space is designated for means of egress on the plans and specifications submitted to the enforcement agency under Section 10-103(a)2 of Part 1; and

ii. The egress lighting controls shall not be controllable by unauthorized personnel during a normal power failure.

B. Multi-level lighting controls. The general lighting of any space with a size of 100 square feet or larger and with a connected lighting load greater than 0.5 watts per square foot shall  be provided with multilevel lighting controls. The multilevel lighting controls shall provide and enable continuous dimming from 100 percent to 10 percent or lower of lighting power.  

i. Provide the number of control steps specified in Table 160.5-B; and

ii. Meet the uniformity requirements specified in Table 160.5-B.

Exception 1 to Section 160.5(b)4B: An indoor space that has only one luminaire.

Exception 2 to Section 160.5(b)4B: Restrooms.

Exception 3 to Section 160.5(b)4B: The general lighting with light source of HID and induction shall have a minimum of one control step between 30 and 70 percent of full rated power.

C. Shut-OFF Controls. All installed indoor lighting shall be equipped with controls able to automatically reduce lighting power when the space is typically unoccupied.

Exception to Section 160.5(b)4C: Continuous illumination of up to 0.1 watts per square foot of lighting is allowed to be in any area designated for egress within a building, provided that the area is indicated on the plans and specifications submitted to the enforcement agency under Section 10-103(a)2 of Part 1. Lighting providing means of egress illumination, as defined in the California Building Code, shall be configured to provide no less than the illumination required by California Building Code Section 1008 while in the partial-off mode.

i.  All installed indoor lighting shall be equipped with controls that meet the following requirements:

a. Shall be controlled with an occupant sensing control set no more than a 20-minute time delay, automatic time-switch control, or other control capable of automatically shutting OFF all of the lighting when the space is typically unoccupied; and
b. Separate controls for the lighting on each floor, other than lighting in stairwells; and
c.  Separate control zones for a space enclosed by ceiling height partitions not exceeding 5,000 square feet;

Exception 1 to Section 160.5(b)4Ci: Where the lighting is serving an area that is in continuous use, 24 hours per day/365 days per year.

Exception 2 to Section 160.5(b)4Ci: Lighting complying with Section 160.5(b)4Cv or Section 160.5(b)4Cvic.

Exception 3 to Section 160.5(b)4Ci:  Electrical equipment rooms subject to Article 110.26(D) of the California Electrical Code.

Exception 4 to Section 160.5(b)4Ci: Illumination provided by lighting equipment that is designated for emergency lighting, and intended to function in emergency mode only when normal power is absent.

ii. Countdown timer switches may be used to comply with the automatic shut-OFF control requirements in Section 160.5(b)4Ci only in closets less than 70 square feet. The maximum timer setting shall be 10 minutes for closets.
iii. If an automatic time-switch control is installed to comply with Section 160.5(b)4Ci, it shall incorporate a manual override lighting control that allows the lighting to remain on for no more than 2 hours when an override is initiated.


Exception to Section 160.5(b)4Ciii: Areas where occupant sensing controls are installed.

iv. If an automatic time-switch control is installed to comply with Section 160.5(b)4Ci, it shall incorporate an automatic holiday "shut-OFF" feature that turns OFF all loads for at least 24 hours, and then resumes the normally scheduled operation.

Exception 1 to Section 160.5(b)4Civ: Automatic holiday shut-OFF features are not required in restaurants.

Exception 2 to Section 160.5(b)4Civ: Areas where occupant sensing controls are installed.


v. Occupant Sensing Controls. In offices 250 square feet or smaller, multipurpose rooms of less than 1,000 square feet, conference rooms, and restrooms, lighting shall be controlled with occupant sensing controls to automatically shut OFF all of the lighting in 20 minutes or less after the control zone is unoccupied.

In areas required by Section 160.5(b)4B to have multi-level lighting controls, the occupant sensing controls shall function either as:
a. a partial-ON occupant sensing control capable of automatically activating between 50 and 70 percent of controlled lighting power, or
b. a vacancy sensing control, where all lighting responds to a manual ON input only.

In areas not required by Section 160.5(b)4B to have multi-level lighting controls, the occupant sensing controls shall function either as:

a. an automatic full-on occupant sensing control; or

b. a partial-ON occupant sensing control, or

c. a vacancy sensing control, where all lighting responds to a manual ON input only.

b. a partial-ON occupant sensing control, or

In addition, controls shall be provided that allow the lights to be manually shut-OFF in accordance with Section 160.5(b)4A regardless of the sensor status.

c. a vacancy sensing control, where all lighting responds to a manual ON input only.
vi. Full or Partial OFF occupant sensing controls. For corridors, stairwells, and offices greater than 250 square feet, parking garages, parking areas, loading areas, and unloading areas, the installed lighting shall meet the following requirements.
a. In corridors and stairwells, lighting shall be controlled by occupant sensing controls that separately reduce the lighting power in each space by at least 50 percent when the space is unoccupied. The occupant sensing controls shall be capable of automatically turning the lighting fully ON only in the separately controlled space, and shall be automatically activated from all designed paths of egress.
b. In office spaces greater than 250 square feet, general lighting shall be controlled by occupancy sensing controls that meet all of the following:
I. The occupancy sensing controls shall be configured so that lighting shall be controlled separately in control zones not greater than 600 square feet. All control zones in offices greater than 250 square feet shall be shown on the plans; and
II. In 20 minutes of or less after the control zone is unoccupied, the occupancy sensing controls shall uniformly reduce lighting power in the control zone to no more than 20 percent of full power. Control functions that switch control zone lights completely off when the zone is vacant meet this requirement; and
III. In 20 minutes of or less after the entire office space is unoccupied, the occupancy sensing controls shall automatically turn off lighting in all control zones in the space; and
IV. In each control zone, lighting shall be allowed to automatically turn on to any level up to full power upon occupancy within the control zone. When occupancy is detected in any control zone in the space, the lighting in other control zones that are unoccupied shall operate at no more than 20 percent of full power.

Exception to Section 160.5(b)4Cvib: Under-shelf or furniture-mounted task lighting controlled by a local switch and either a time switch or an occupancy sensor. 
c. In parking garages, parking areas, and loading and unloading areas, general lighting shall be controlled by occupant sensing controls that meet the requirements below instead of complying with Section 160.5(b)4Ci:


i.   The occupant sensing controls shall uniformly reduce lighting power in the control zone to between 20 percent and 50 percent of full power and with at least one control step; and 


ii.   No more than 500 watts of rated lighting power shall be controlled together as a single zone; and 


iii.  The occupant sensing controls shall be capable of automatically turning the lighting fully ON only in the separately controlled zone and shall be automatically activated from all designed paths of egress.


Interior areas of parking garages are under the classification of indoor lighting and shall comply with Section 160.5(b)4Cvic. Parking areas on the roof of a parking structure are under the classification of outdoor hardscape and shall comply with Section 160.5(c)

D.  Daylight Responsive Controls.

Daylight responsive controls shall be installed in the following locations as applicable:

      i.    In any enclosed space where the total installed wattage of general lighting luminaires completely or partially within skylit daylit zones, is 75 watts or greater, the general lighting in the skylit daylit zones shall be controlled by daylight responsive controls.

      ii.    In any enclosed space where the total installed wattage of general lighting luminaires completely or partially within primary sidelit daylit zones is 75 watts or greater, the general lighting in the primary sidelit daylit zones shall be controlled by daylight responsive controls.

      iii.    In any enclosed space where the total wattage of general lighting luminaires in the secondary zones is 75 watts or greater, the general lighting in the secondary sidelit daylit zones shall be controlled by daylight responsive controls. General lighting in the secondary sidelit daylit zones shall be controlled independently of general lighting in the primary sidelit daylit zones.    

      iv.    For skylights located in an atrium, the skylit daylit zones shall apply to the floor area directly under the atrium and the top floor area directly adjacent to the atrium.

      v.     Parking garage areas where the total installed wattage of the general lighting in the primary and the secondary sidelit daylit zones is 60 watts or greater, the general lighting in the primary and secondary sidelit daylit zones shall be controlled by daylight responsive controls.

All daylight responsive controls shall meet the following requirements:

     vi.    All skylit daylit zones, primary sidelit daylit zones, secondary sidelit daylit zones and the combined primary and secondary sidelit daylit zones in parking garages shall be shown on the plans; and

    Note: Parking areas on the roof of a parking structure are outdoor hardscape, not skylit daylit areas.

    vii.  The daylight responsive controls shall provide separate control for general lighting in each type of daylit zone. The daylight responsive controls shall meet the following:

      a.   General lighting in overlapping skylit daylit zone and sidelit daylit zone shall be controlled as part of the skylit daylit zone.

      b.   General lighting in overlapping primary and secondary sidelit daylit zone shall be controlled as part of the primary sidelit daylit zone. 

      c.    General lighting luminaires longer than 8 feet shall be controlled as segments of 8 feet or less   according to the type of the daylit zone the segment is primarily located; and.

      Exception to Section 160.5(b)4Dviic: Where a luminaire contains a factory assembled housing and light source as an integral unit in segments longer than 8 feet, the luminaire is allowed to be controlled according to the type of the daylit zone in which the segment is primarily located.

   viii.   The daylight responsive controls shall meet the following:        

a.   For spaces where the installation of multilevel lighting controls is required under Section 160.5(b)4B, allow the multilevel lighting controls to adjust the light level with continuous dimming.

b.   For each space, ensure the combined illuminance from the controlled lighting and daylight is not less than the illuminance from controlled lighting when no daylight is available; 

c.   For areas other than parking garages, ensure that when the daylight illuminance is greater than 150 percent of the illuminance provided by the controlled lighting system when no daylight is available, the controlled lighting power in that daylight zone shall be reduced by a minimum of 90 percent; and

d.   For parking garages, ensure that when daylight illuminance levels measured at the farthest edge of the secondary sidelit zone away from the glazing or opening are greater than 150 percent of the illuminance provided by the controlled lighting when no daylight is available, the controlled lighting power in the combined primary and secondary sidelit daylight zones shall be reduced by 100 percent; and.

ix.  Photosensor shall be located so that they are not readily accessible to unauthorized personnel; and

x.   The location where calibration adjustments are made to the daylight responsive controls shall be readily accessible to authorized personnel but may be inside a locked case or under a cover that requires a tool for access.; and

xi.  Interaction with other lighting controls in a space where manual controls are required, the manual controls shall be capable of turning off or decreasing light levels below the light level set by the daylight responsive controls

Exception 1 to Section 160.5(b)4D: Areas under skylights where it is documented that existing adjacent structures or natural objects block direct sunlight for more than 1,500 daytime hours per year between 8 a.m. and 4 p.m.

Exception 2 to Section 160.5(b)4D Areas adjacent to vertical glazing below an overhang, where the overhang covers the entire width of the vertical glazing, no vertical glazing is above the overhang, and the ratio of the overhang projection to the overhang rise is greater than 1.5 for South, East and West orientations or greater than 1 for North orientations.

Exception 3 to Section 160.5(b)4D: Where daylight responsive controls are not required for the primary sidelit daylit zones, and where the total wattage of general lighting luminaires in the secondary sidelit daylit zones is less than 85 watts, daylight responsive controls are not required for the secondary sidelit zone.    

Exception 4 to Section 160.5(b)4D: Reserved

Exception 5 to Section 160.5(b)4D: Rooms that have a total glazing area of less than 24 square feet, or parking garage areas with a combined total of less than 36 square feet of glazing or opening.

Exception 6 to Section 160.5(b)4D: For parking garages, luminaires located in the daylight adaptation zone.

Exception 7 to Section 160.5(b)4D:  Luminaires in sidelit daylit zones in retail merchandise sales and wholesale showroom areas.

E. Demand Responsive Controls. See Section 110.12 for requirements for demand responsive lighting controls.

F.  Occupancy Sensing Controls interactions with Space-conditioning Systems. For space-conditioning system zones serving only spaces that are required to have occupancy sensing controls as specified in Sections 160.5(b)4Cv and vi, and where Table 120.1-A allows the ventilation air to be reduced to zero when the space is in occupied-standby mode, the space conditioning system shall be permitted to be controlled by occupancy sensing controls as specified in Section 120.2(e)3. 
(c) Outdoor lighting and control equipment. Multifamily buildings shall comply with the applicable requirements of Sections 160.5(c)1 through 160.5(c)2.
1. Luminaire shielding requirements. All outdoor luminaires of 6,200 initial luminaire lumens or greater, shall comply with Backlight, Uplight, and Glare (BUG) (in accordance with ANSI/IES TM-15-20, Annex A) requirements in accordance with Title 24, Part 11, Section 5.106.8.

Exception 1 to Section 160.5(c)1: Signs.

Exception 2 to Section 160.5(c)1: Lighting for building façades, public monuments, public art, statues, and vertical surfaces of bridges.

Exception 3 to Section 160.5(c)1: Lighting not permitted by a health or life safety statute, ordinance, or regulation to be a cutoff luminaire.

Exception 4 to Section 160.5(c)1: Temporary outdoor lighting.

Exception 5 to Section 160.5(c)1: Replacement of existing pole mounted luminaires in hardscape areas meeting all of the following conditions:

A. Where the existing luminaire does not meet the luminaire BUG requirements in Section 160.5(c)1; and
B. Spacing between existing poles is greater than six times the mounting height of the existing luminaires; and
C. Where no additional poles are being added to the site; and
D. Where new wiring to the luminaires is not being installed; and
E. Provided that the connected lighting power wattage is not increased.

Exception 6 to Section 160.5(c)1: Luminaires that illuminate the public right of way including publicly-maintained or utility-maintained roadways, sidewalks, and bikeways.

Exception 7 to Section 160.5(c)1: Outdoor lighting attached to a multifamily building and separately controlled from the inside of a dwelling unit.

Exception 8 to Section 160.5(c)1: Luminaires that qualify as exceptions in Sections 5.106.8 of Part 11 of Title 24 and in Section 170.2(e)6A.

2. Controls for outdoor lighting. Outdoor lighting shall be independently controlled from other electrical loads, and the controls for outdoor lighting shall meet the following functional requirements:

Exception 1 to Section 160.5(c)2: Outdoor lighting not permitted by a health or life safety statute, ordinance, or regulation to be turned OFF or reduced.

Exception 2 to Section 160.5(c)2Lighting in tunnels required to be illuminated 24 hours per day and 365 days per year.

A. Daylight availability. All installed outdoor lighting shall be controlled by a photo control, astronomical time-switch control, or other control capable of automatically shutting OFF the outdoor lighting when daylight is available.
B. Automatic scheduling controls.
i. Automatic scheduling controls shall be installed for all outdoor lighting. Automatic scheduling controls may be installed in combination with motion sensing controls or other outdoor lighting controls.
ii. Automatic scheduling controls shall be capable of reducing the outdoor lighting power by 50 to 90 percent, and separately capable of turning the lighting OFF, during scheduled unoccupied periods.
iii. Automatic scheduling controls shall allow scheduling of a minimum of two nighttime periods with independent lighting levels, and may include an override function that turns lighting ON during its scheduled dim or OFF state for no more than two hours when an override is initiated.
C. Motion sensing controls.
i. Motion sensing controls shall be installed for outdoor luminaires. providing lighting for general hardscape, parking lots, and outdoor canopies, where the bottom of the luminaire is mounted 24 feet above grade or lower.
ii. Motion sensing controls shall be capable of reducing the outdoor lighting power of each controlled luminaire by 50 to 90 percent, and separately capable of turning the luminaire OFF, during unoccupied periods.
iii. Motion sensing controls shall be capable of reducing the lighting to its dim or OFF state no longer than 15 minutes after the area has been vacated, and of returning the lighting to its ON state when the area becomes occupied.
iv. No more than 1,500 watts of lighting power shall be controlled by a single sensor or as a single zone.

Exception 1 to Section 160.5(c)2C: Luminaires with a maximum rated wattage of 40 watts each are not required to have motion sensing controls.

Exception 2 to Section 160.5(c)2C: Applications listed as exceptions to Section 170.2(e)2A and luminaires providing lighting for building façade, ornamental hardscape or outdoor dining are not required to have motion sensing controls.

Exception 3 to Section 160.5(c)2C: Lighting subject to a health or life safety statute, ordinance, or regulation may have a minimum time-out period longer than 15 minutes or a minimum dimming level above 50 percent when necessary to comply with the applicable law.

(d) Sign lighting controls. All sign lighting shall meet the requirements below as applicable:
1. Indoor signs. All indoor sign lighting other than exit sign lighting shall be controlled with an automatic time-switch control or astronomical time-switch control.
2. Outdoor signs. Outdoor sign lighting shall meet the following requirements as applicable:
A. All outdoor sign lighting shall be controlled with a photocontrol in addition to an automatic time-switch control, or an astronomical time-switch control.

Exception to Section 160.5(d)2A: Outdoor signs in tunnels, and signs in large permanently covered outdoor areas that are intended to be continuously lit, 24 hours per day and 365 days per year.
B. All outdoor sign lighting that is ON both day and night shall be controlled with a dimmer that provides the ability to automatically reduce sign lighting power by a minimum of 65 percent during nighttime hours. Signs that are illuminated at night and for more than 1 hour during daylight hours shall be considered ON both day and night.

Exception to Section 160.5(d)2B: Outdoor signs in tunnels and large covered areas that are intended to be illuminated both day and night.

3. Demand Responsive Electronic Message Center (EMC) control. See Section 110.12 for requirements for demand responsive EMC controls.

(e) Lighting control acceptance and installation certificate requirement. Multifamily common use areas shall comply with the applicable requirements of Sections 160.5(e)1 through 160.5(e)3.
1.  Lighting control acceptance requirements. Before an occupancy permit is granted, indoor and outdoor lighting controls serving the building, area, or site and installed to comply with Section 160.5(b)4D, 160.5(b)4C, 160.5(b)4E, 160.5(c)2, or 170.2(e)1Aiij shall be certified as meeting the Acceptance Requirements for Code Compliance, as specified by Reference Nonresidential Appendix NA7.6 and NA7.8.  A Certificate of Acceptance shall be submitted to the enforcement agency under Section 10-103(a) of Part 1, that the equipment and systems meet the acceptance requirements:
A. Reserved;
B. Reserved;
C. Daylight responsive controls shall be tested in accordance with Reference Nonresidential Appendix NA7.6.1;

D. Lighting shut-OFF controls shall be tested in accordance with Reference Nonresidential Appendix NA7.6.2;

E. Demand responsive lighting controls shall be tested in accordance with Reference Nonresidential Appendix NA7.6.3; and

F. Outdoor lighting controls shall be tested in accordance with Reference Nonresidential Appendix NA7.8; and

G. Lighting systems receiving the Institutional Tuning Power Adjustment Factor shall be tested in accordance with Reference Nonresidential Appendix NA7.6.4.

H. Demand responsive controls required to control controlled receptacles shall be tested in accordance with Reference Nonresidential Appendix NA7.6.5.

2. Lighting control installation certificate requirements. To be recognized for compliance with Part 6 an Installation Certificate shall be submitted in accordance with Section 10-103(a) for any lighting control system, Energy Management Control System, interlocked lighting system, lighting Power Adjustment Factor, or additional wattage available for a videoconference studio, in accordance with the following requirements, as applicable:

A. Certification that when a lighting control system is installed to comply with lighting control requirements in Part 6 it complies with the applicable requirements of Section NA7.7.1.

B. Certification that when an Energy Management Control System is installed to function as a lighting control required by Part 6 it functionally meets all applicable requirements for each application for which it is installed, in accordance with Sections 110.9, 160, 170, and 180; and complies with Reference Nonresidential Appendix NA7.7.2.

C. Certification that interlocked lighting systems used to serve an approved area comply with Section 170.2(e)2A; and comply with Reference Nonresidential Appendix NA7.7.4.

D. Certification that lighting controls installed to earn a lighting Power Adjustment Factor (PAF) comply with Section 170.2(e)2B; and comply with Reference Nonresidential Appendix NA7.7.5.

E. Reserved.
3. When certification is required by Title 24, Part 1, 10-103.1, the acceptance testing specified by Section 160.5(e) shall be performed by a Certified Lighting Controls Acceptance Test Technician (CLCATT). If the CLCATT is operating as an employee, the CLCATT shall be employed by a Certified Lighting Controls Acceptance Test Employer. The CLCATT shall disclose on the Certificate of Acceptance a valid CLCATT certification identification number issued by an approved Acceptance Test Technician Certification Provider. The CLCATT shall complete all Certificate of Acceptance documentation in accordance with the applicable requirements in Section 10-103(a)4.

Note: Authority: Sections 25213, 25218, 25218.5, 25402 and 25402.1, Public Resources Code. Reference: Sections 25007, 25008, 25218.5, 25310, 25402, 25402.1, 25402.4, 25402.5, 25402.8, and 25943, Public Resources Code.

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.

© 2025 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.