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Board adopts updated outdoor lighting and sign rules, narrows proposed Montecito uplighting exception
Summary
After public comment from dark‑sky advocates, planners and business representatives, the board adopted countywide updates to outdoor lighting and sign ordinances, adding protections for wildlife and directing staff to review county facilities. The board directed a lower color-temperature cap and declined a new uplighting exception for Montecito.
The Santa Barbara County Board of Supervisors adopted a package of updates to the county's outdoor lighting, signage and related development code amendments on Feb. 11, adding clearer standards for fixture shielding, lumen limits, timing controls and sign design while including board-directed modifications.
Planning staff described the package as a countywide effort to standardize inconsistent lighting provisions and reduce light pollution. Proposed measures include full-cutoff fixtures where practical, maximum light levels at property lines, restrictions on uplighting and new timing/shutoff requirements. The proposal included a bright-line exempt threshold for very low-output fixtures (60 lumens) and maximum Kelvin caps for different types of lighting.
Dark-sky advocates urged stricter controls. "We will all enjoy outdoor lighting that keeps the sky dark so we can see the full beauty of our stars while the ground has more light where we need it," Nancy Emerson of Save Our Stars/WeWatch told supervisors. Conservation-minded commenters asked the board to adopt a lower Kelvin cap (2,700 K) and require string-light shielding; business and community speakers urged flexibility and careful transition for permitted facilities.
Following extended questions and public remarks, the board adopted staff recommendations with direction to: (1) add protecting wildlife and nature to the ordinance purpose, (2) adopt a lower Kelvin cap (board guidance settled at 2,700 K), (3) decline a Montecito-specific exception to allow new uplighting of specimen trees/flags (no new uplighting in the countywide standard), and (4) direct General Services to review county facilities for compliance and to pursue voluntary alignment with the new standards where reasonable. The motion passed 3–2 (Hartman, Lee and Chair Capps in favor; Nelson and Lavinino opposed).
What happens next: Planning and General Services will carry out implementation steps, provide guidance to commercial and residential property owners, and staff will post performance and compliance information. The county will hold exemptions for lawfully existing lighting and permit nonconforming installations to remain unless altered.
