Protecting Our Night Skies

County Line Dark Skies is a local initiative to support and comply with the Santa Monica Mountains Dark Sky Ordinance. Our goal is to reduce light pollution, protect sensitive habitats, and preserve the beauty of our night skies

General Requirements (For Homes Built Before Sept 9, 2022)

Downward-facing lighting only
No light spillover beyond the property line
Max brightness: 850 lumens
Shielding: Fully shielded fixtures required
Dark hours: Lights must turn off from 10:00 PM to sunrise (unless people are present)

Prohibited Lighting

Flashing, blinking, or rotating lights
Perimeter lights or unshielded gate lights
Up-lighting or ultraviolet lights
Permanent landscape lights in non-occupied areas

Exemptions

Festive lighting (seasonal)
Fully shielded lighting < 60 lumens
String lights under 2700K in occupied areas
Swimming pool lights

Living Near Environmentally Sensitive Habitat Areas (ESHA)

Special rules apply within 100 feet of native vegetation, beach, or other sensitive habitats. Lighting Requirements Near ESHA Zones:

Fully shielded, down-facing fixtures only
Motion sensors + timers set to 5 minutes
Reflectors or glow-in-the-dark options are recommended instead of lights for driveways/roads
No relocation of lighting into buffer zones (~100 ft from ESHA)

Prohibited Lighting in ESHA Zones:

Residential recreational facility lighting
Any lights with glare/spillover into ESHA
Lights over 850 lumens (unless essential and code-compliant)