Irvine, CA, is experiencing a sharp increase in harsh outdoor lighting. Over the past year, the city and private sites have added large numbers of high-glare lighting sources including streetlights, parking-lot fixtures, residential security lights, flashing signage, not to mention blinding vehicle and e-bike lights. Many of these sources also appear “blue-white,” a quality often associated with higher correlated color temperature (CCT).

This is not merely an aesthetic concern. Excessive glare from poorly designed outdoor lighting poses a visual safety hazard and a public health concern, particularly for individuals with glare sensitivity or disabilities. We, a group of residents and friends of Irvine, urge the city to adopt a public ordinance that promotes responsible outdoor lighting practices—specifically, controlling glare, limiting unnecessary brightness, and reducing blue-rich light—so that streets and public spaces remain well lit without creating barriers to safe use or well-being.

Some worry that “softer” lighting could compromise safety. In reality, safety depends not only on how much light is present, but on how that light is delivered. Beyond a certain point, increased brightness is unnecessary and—especially when poorly shielded—can create glare that reduces visibility for drivers, cyclists, and pedestrians by washing out usable contrast and obscuring surrounding areas. For many people, particularly those with glare sensitivity or disabilities, well-designed lighting that is sufficiently bright, carefully shielded, and properly directed is essential to the safe and secure use of public spaces.

Many newer LED streetlights used in outdoor settings emit a higher proportion of blue-rich light than legacy lighting technologies. This matters because short-wavelength (“blue”) light scatters more readily within the human eye, increasing disability glare and reducing usable contrast. In guidance issued in 2016, the American Medical Association warned that the visual hazard associated with intense, point-source LED lighting is exacerbated at higher correlated color temperatures—particularly above 3000 K—due to increased blue-light scatter in the eye leading to greater disability glare (American Medical Association, 2016). For these reasons, the AMA recommended the use of lower-CCT, well-shielded outdoor lighting to reduce glare and protect visual safety.

We, the undersigned, report that even brief exposure to high-glare and blue-white outdoor lighting can trigger symptoms such as eye pain, headaches, nausea, and reduced nighttime visibility—effects that are consistent with documented concerns about glare and visual performance (FHWA, 2024). For many residents, this glare creates practical and discriminatory barriers to the safe use and enjoyment of public spaces after nightfall. It also diminishes the shared experience of a dark night sky, a source of awe and connection across generations. Concerned about the well-being of both current and future generations in Irvine, a local high school student initiated this campaign, which has since gathered support from residents of many ages and backgrounds.

Upon learning of Irvine’s large-scale transition to LED streetlights, one member of our group, who lives with photophobia and chronic health conditions, reached out to the city in early 2024 to share concerns about the health and visibility impacts of the new lighting. The response from city engineers and officials, along with personnel from Edison, was thoughtful and constructive.

In the months that followed, the city began modifying close to 200 streetlights in a Northwood neighborhood. These changes included replacing dozens of 3000/4000 K bulbs with 2700 K bulbs, reducing wattage where possible, and installing glare shields on more than fifty lights. More recently, the city brought forward a policy reversal to limit all future streetlight installations to 2700 K or lower, signaling a meaningful commitment to public health, accessibility, and environmental stewardship.

Despite recent progress, Irvine’s current approach to outdoor lighting remains inconsistent and dependent on case-by-case interpretation. A clearer and more explicit commitment to addressing both blue-rich light and glare—through lower-CCT fixtures, proper shielding, and diffusing mechanisms—is needed to ensure consistent implementation across the city.

Irvine’s existing code already recognizes the importance of glare control, stating that “outdoor lighting shall be designed and installed so that all direct rays are confined to the site and adjacent properties are protected from glare,” and that parking-lot lighting should be “designed and installed so as to confine direct rays to the site” (City of Irvine, 2024). However, without specific standards and enforcement mechanisms, these principles are unevenly applied, allowing visually hazardous lighting conditions to persist.

The Solution We Seek

We respectfully ask the City of Irvine to adopt a Prevention of Light Pollution and Glare ordinance that clarifies and codifies responsible outdoor lighting practices citywide. Such an ordinance would translate existing intent into consistent standards, ensuring that outdoor lighting supports safety, accessibility, public health, and environmental quality across all neighborhoods.

At a minimum, the ordinance should establish the following principles:

• Glare Control and Shielding
  Outdoor lighting shall be fully shielded, properly aimed, and designed to prevent glare and light trespass onto adjacent properties and public rights-of-way. Where needed, diffusing or glare-reducing optics must be used.  
• Limits on Blue-Rich Light (CCT)
  To reduce disability glare and visual hazards associated with blue-rich light, outdoor lighting should not exceed a maximum correlated color temperature of 2700 K.
• Appropriate Brightness Levels
  Outdoor lighting should avoid excessive illumination that contributes to glare and visual discomfort.
• Consistency Across Applications
  These standards should apply consistently to streetlights, residential security lighting, parking lots, pathways, commercial properties, and temporary or decorative installations, with clear guidance for implementation and review.

There is Hope from Elsewhere!

A growing number of cities across the United States—including Laguna Beach, CA; Julian, CA; Malibu, CA; Tucson, AZ; Flagstaff, AZ; Sedona, AZ; Chesterfield, MO; Nantucket, MA; and Southold, NY—have taken formal steps to address light pollution through responsible outdoor lighting policies and ordinances. These communities demonstrate that it is possible to protect safety, accessibility, and environmental quality simultaneously through clear standards that control glare, limit blue-rich light, and regulate brightness levels.

We believe that Irvine, with its demonstrated commitment to resident well-being, accessibility, and thoughtful planning, is well positioned not only to join these efforts, but to build on them—setting a regional example for how a modern city can deliver safe nighttime visibility without sacrificing public health, environmental stewardship, or the shared experience of a dark night sky.

Why Your Signature Matters Now

We urge you to sign this petition and help bring it to the attention of key decision-makers before further avoidable harm occurs. Without clear, citywide standards, visually hazardous lighting will continue to spread—burdening residents with glare disability and impacting pets, wildlife, and the nighttime environment we all share.

Please sign and share this petition to help protect Irvine’s night skies.

References

Sources and background for this petition draw on guidance from major public health, transportation, and vision science authorities. The American Medical Association has issued formal policy guidance on the human and environmental effects of LED community lighting, including concerns about glare and high correlated color temperature
https://policysearch.ama-assn.org/policyfinder/detail/H-135.927
and has further discussed the public health benefits of preserving dark night skies in the AMA Journal of Ethics
https://doi.org/10.1001/amajethics.2024.804

Transportation safety research also recognizes glare and contrast sensitivity as key factors in nighttime visibility. The Federal Highway Administration outlines considerations for lighting systems and visual performance
https://highways.dot.gov/safety/other/visibility/fhwa-lighting-handbook-august-2012/5-considerations-concerning-lighting
and defines glare and related visual terms in its lighting handbook glossary
https://highways.dot.gov/safety/other/visibility/fhwa-lighting-handbook-august-2012/glossary-terms

Peer-reviewed vision science further documents the effects of glare on human perception. Recent research published in Vision Research examines the impact of scotomatic glare on central visual field perception
https://doi.org/10.1016/j.visres.2024.108457

Environmental impacts of artificial light at night are also well documented. DarkSky International summarizes research on how light pollution harms wildlife and ecosystems
https://darksky.org/resources/what-is-light-pollution/effects/wildlife-ecosystems/

Examples of municipal policies addressing light pollution and glare include local and national precedents. The City of Malibu has adopted a Dark Sky Ordinance
https://www.malibucity.org/705/Dark-Sky-Ordinance
while the City of Irvine’s zoning code already includes provisions related to outdoor lighting and glare
https://cityofirvine.org/community-development/zoning
Additional community and municipal programs can be found through the Julian Dark Sky Network
https://www.juliandarkskynetwork.com
and Nantucket Lights
https://nantucketlights.org/dark-sky-places-program
with broader municipal code examples accessible via Municode
https://library.municode.com