Report a lighting violation

Santa Cruz County's outdoor lighting ordinance (Article 28) requires shielded, downward-facing fixtures that meet shielding, lumen, and spectrum standards. Use this form to document violations — including light trespass, unshielded or upward-facing fixtures, and excessive brightness — and submit your complaint directly to county staff.

Try talking to your neighbor first

Before filing a formal complaint, it is always worth trying to resolve the issue directly with the property owner or tenant. Many people are simply unaware that their lighting causes problems for neighbors or the night sky, and a friendly conversation — or a brief note explaining the issue — often resolves it quickly and amicably. You may even find them willing to make improvements that go beyond what a formal complaint would require. If a direct approach has already been tried, or if the situation makes it impractical, this form will help you escalate to county staff.

Your information

Name (optional)

Email address (optional)

Provided only if you would like a response from county staff.

Location of complaint

Street address or nearest intersection (required)

Type of property

Nature of violation

How long has this been occurring?

Description of the problem

Describe the violation in as much detail as possible (required)

0 characters

Other witnesses or affected neighbors (optional)

Have you contacted the property owner? (optional)

Photos and supporting evidence

Photos are the most important evidence you can provide. Please include night-time images showing the light source and any spill onto adjacent properties, roads, or sky. Daytime photos of the fixture itself are also helpful. Multiple photos from different angles are encouraged.

↑ Upload photos to TDSA shared folder

Note the file names of your photos in your email so county staff can locate them.

Submit your complaint to Santa Cruz County

Copy your notes above into an email and send to the Santa Cruz County Community Development Department. Sending to both contacts below is recommended. Include the address of the complaint, the file names of any photos you uploaded, and a reference to Article 28 of the County Zoning and Development Code.

✉ Email both contacts at once

Colin Bishop

Community Development Director
Santa Cruz County

cbishop@santacruzcountyaz.gov

✉ Email Colin Bishop

Roberto Rojas Liquidano

Development Services Manager
Santa Cruz County

RLiquidano@santacruzcountyaz.gov

✉ Email Roberto Rojas Liquidano

Note: The email links above open a pre-addressed message with a template — fill in the bracketed fields before sending. The fields on this page are for your own reference and are not automatically transmitted. Attaching photos directly to the email, in addition to uploading to the shared folder, is strongly encouraged. Reference Article 28 of the Santa Cruz County Zoning and Development Code (adopted October 15, 2024) in your complaint.