To: Board of Supervisors
From: Planning and Building Department
Agenda Section: Consent - Received Too Late For Review (TLFR)
Vote Requirement: Majority
SUBJECT:
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Continuation of the Outdoor Lighting Ordinance as Modified and Certified by the California Coastal Commission Adding Section 313-105.1 of the Humboldt County Code to Set Design Standards for Outdoor Lighting within the Coastal Unincorporated Areas of Humboldt County and Amending Sections 313-138, 313-141, 313-147 and 313-154 (Definitions)
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RECOMMENDATION(S):
Recommendation
1. That the Board of Supervisors: Continue the public hearing regarding the adoption of the Outdoor Lighting Ordinance, as modified by the California Coastal Commission, to a special meeting of the Board of Supervisors on July 28, 2026, at 4:00 p.m., in lieu of the Board's regular meeting on August 11, 2026, as previously scheduled by the Board on July 7, 2026.
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STRATEGIC PLAN:
This action supports the following areas of your Board’s Strategic Plan.
Area of Focus: Safe & Healthy Communities
Strategic Plan Category: 1008 - Update General Plan ordinances for quality of environment
DISCUSSION:
Project Location: All coastal unincorporated areas of Humboldt County.
Present Plan Land Use Designation: All land use designations within the coastal zone.
Present Zoning: All zoning districts.
Environmental Review: The proposed ordinance is exempt from environmental review pursuant to Section 15251(f), Exemption for Certified State Regulatory Programs, of the State CEQA Guidelines.
State Appeal: Changes proposed to the Local Coastal Program received final certification from the California Coastal Commission on February 4, 2026.
Executive Summary:
The Coastal Outdoor Lighting Ordinance was approved by the Board of Supervisors on August 19, 2025 (Ordinance 2768 - Attachment 6) and transmitted to the California Coastal Commission on November 13, 2025. On February 4, 2026, the Coastal Commission certified the ordinance subject to the County adopting the Coastal Commission’s suggested modifications shown in Attachment 4. Staff has accepted the suggested modifications to be consistent with the Coastal Commission’s certification.
The Coastal Commission suggested the following modifications to the Coastal Outdoor Lighting Ordinance:
1. Add the correlated color temperature (CCT) limit of 2700 Kelvins (K) to the Lighting for Residential Use standards of Section 105.1.5.
2. Apply the correlated color temperature (CCT) limit of 2700K specified in Section 105.1.6.3 (standards for parking lots for agricultural, commercial, and industrial uses) more broadly to apply to all outdoor circulation areas for these use types. Also apply the standards of this section to “Public Facilities” uses, including, but not limited to streets.
The above modifications were made by the Coastal Commission staff to further restrict CCT limit to 2700K and further protect the night sky and environmentally sensitive habitat areas (ESHA).
The Humboldt County Board of Supervisors must take action on the ordinance as modified by the Coastal Commission prior to August 4, 2026, otherwise the process would start again from scratch. This item will be publicly noticed for a July 28, 2026 Special Meeting at 9:00 a.m.
SOURCE OF FUNDING:
General funds (1100)
FINANCIAL IMPACT:
Staff costs and other expenses related to research for both the inland and coastal ordinances, and preparation and review of the associated staff reports total approximately $84,000. The staff positions to complete this work are filled and allocated and are included in the General Fund contribution to the Long Range Planning unit 1100-282.
STAFFING IMPACT:
There may be an increase in workload for the Code Enforcement Unit, which is funded by the General Fund (1100-299), who would have to process lighting nuisance complaints and may need to verify lighting nuisances after normal business hours.
OTHER AGENCY INVOLVEMENT:
California Coastal Commission.
PREVIOUS ACTION/REFERRAL:
Meeting of: 3/20/2025 Planning Commission
File No.: 25-386
Meeting of: 5/15/2025 Planning Commission
File No.: 25-645
Meeting of: 8/19/2025 Board of Supervisors
File No.: 25-887
Meeting of: 7/7/2026 Board of Supervisors
File No.: 26-723