Dark Sky Ordinance To Help Preserve Malibu

MALIBU—The city of Malibu is taking initiative to preserve the environment. Starting Monday, October 15, Malibu will be regulating outdoor lighting.

According to the city of Malibu website, the goal of the ordinance is to reduce the amount of light pollution in the city. Reducing light pollution helps to protect wildlife, habitats, and Malibu’s rural coastal village character. The ordinance was unanimously approved by the Malibu City Council in April 2018.  In 2013, the city council enacted a citywide outdoor lighting ordinance that was created with assistance from the International Dark-Sky Association (IDA). The IDA is a United States-based non-profit organization started in 1988 by astronomers in an effort preserve the nighttime environment and reduce light pollution.

The Dark Sky Ordinance regulates outdoor lighting through the adoption of city wide outdoor lighting standards into Title 17, or Zoning, of the Malibu Municipal Code. Specific goals of the Dark Sky Ordinance is to provide safe and effective levels of outdoor lighting, limit light pollution to preserve enjoyment of the nighttime sky and the city’s rural environment, minimize impacts to wildlife and natural habitats, and promote the city’s goal of conserving energy and natural resources.

Outdoor lighting fixtures must be directed downward, fully shielded and not exceeding 850 lumens. The maximum Kelvin temperature allowed is 3000K. Requirements have been put in place for motion detectors, string lights, and allowable light trespassing from property lines. Additional requirements were also put in place for certain zoning districts.

In an effort to help the transition of the Dark Sky Ordinance for residents and businesses, the Planning Department will be holding special Public Counter Hours at Malibu City Hall on Thursdays from 9:00 a.m. to 11:00 a.m., October 4 through October 25.