Palo Alto council sends dark‑sky lighting ordinance back to staff after hours of debate and public comment

PALO ALTO, Calif. — The Palo Alto City Council voted unanimously April 7 to send a proposed update to the city’s outdoor lighting regulations — commonly called a dark‑sky ordinance — back to staff for revisions after several hours of questions, debate and public comment.

The draft ordinance, presented by planning staff, applies the city’s dark‑sky principles to new lighting installed for new construction, major renovations or fixtures that require a building permit. Staff described changes that would require shielding, warmer‑color lights and a nightly curfew, while retaining an existing 0.5 foot‑candle limit for light trespass at property lines rather than the 0.1 threshold recommended by the Planning and Transportation Commission (PTC). Kelly Cha, planner, said the draft “balances the diverse and often competing comments we’ve received” and recommended applying the new rules to new lighting only to reduce enforcement and cost burdens.

Council members and dozens of public speakers pressed for broader coverage and firmer standards.…