Irvine's new LED streetlights are too bright and too blue. They are unpleasant to look at; they hurt our eyes; and city code puts no limit on the glare.
We are a group of residents asking Irvine to set clear lighting standards, lower the harshness, and give us back our quiet nights.
The harsh glare and icy blue-white light weary the eyes, fracturing the streets into uneven pools of light and dark. Rather than guiding us, this unnatural contrast obscures the path, making it harder rather than easier to navigate the night.
This stark, blue-rich light disrupts our natural circadian rhythms and suppresses melatonin, while unshielded fixtures bleed this glare directly into the rooms where we sleep. For residents living with migraines, autism, or photophobia, this relentless illumination takes an even heavier toll.
Unshielded fixtures spill into the sky and into bedrooms and yards, causing unwelcome nuisance in homes and washing out the night sky.
Irvine's current code promises that outdoor lighting will be contained and neighbors protected from the glare. Yet these protections are hollow, offering no way to measure the intrusion and setting absolutely no limit on the harsh color temperature. We seek a city-wide standard anchored in firm, enforceable numbers, demanding illumination that is
Use only as much light as the task needs; this includes picking the lowest possible color temperature (amber tones wherever possible, and no more than 2700K outdoors at night).
Use timers, dimmers, and sensors so light runs only when and where it's actually needed.
Shield fixtures to aim light down at the ground, not into eyes, windows, and the sky.
A short look at the movement.
Watch on YouTube →
Our three R's distill the Five Principles for Responsible Outdoor Lighting, published jointly by DarkSky International and the Illuminating Engineering Society. Irvine can build on them.
The American Medical Association says streetlights should be shielded and capped at 3000K or below. We urge Irvine to cap at a maximum of 2700K. (AMA, 2016)
State energy codes regulate light pollution on private property, but public streetlights are exempt. Irvine must close this gap and enforce stricter lighting standards citywide.
We recognize that our streets should not be plunged into darkness. The question is how much light our roads actually need, and where that light should be aimed. An unshielded fixture scatters light inside the eye, laying a haze over everything we are trying to see. It also leaves the street in bright pools with dark between them, and eyes that must keep readjusting see less than they would under a steady, even glow. Brightness alone does not make a street safe.
It costs nothing extra to choose warm light. Edison offers 2700K, 3000K, or 4000K for the same price. Selecting the warmer tone requires only a checkmark and a signature.
The lights already standing will cost money to correct, but the work is simple. Shields bolt onto the existing poles, and warmer bulbs can go in during routine maintenance over the coming months. Irvine chose the harsh 4000K light when the warm option was offered free of charge. The cost to fix it now is part of that same choice.
Residents across Orange County have signed our petition, and the list keeps growing.
After one resident spoke up, the city modified the lighting in one neighborhood.
We have presented the problem to Irvine city staff and council members and are in ongoing dialogue with them.
A quiet, resolute note from a single resident carries genuine weight. Fill in the three fields below and the letter writes itself — then copy it, or open it straight in your email app.
Dear Mayor and Members of the City Council,
I live in Irvine. The city's new LED streetlights are too bright. The glare leaks off the pavement and shines straight into our eyes, windows and yards.
I ask the Council to pass a clear lighting standard with three rules:
Southern California Edison offers 2700K, 3000K, or 4000K for the same price. Selecting the warm light costs the city nothing extra. The American Medical Association recommends 3000K or lower to protect public health. Right now, Irvine has no limits on brightness or color temperature.
Please reply and let me know when the Council will discuss this.
Sincerely,
[Your Name]
[Your Street or Neighborhood]
[Your Email]
The Irvine City Council convenes on the second and fourth Tuesday of each month, carving out time to hear directly from the public. A single, resolute minute at the podium from a resident who lives beneath this harsh glare carries the weight to shift the city's course more than anything else.
Pass this page and our videos to your neighbors and keep watch with us. The more residents of Irvine who recognize this intrusion, the heavier our collective demand becomes.
We need numbers. A council that hears from one resident has a complaint on its hands. A council that hears from two hundred is faced with an agenda item. Send the letter, make a public comment, tell a neighbor. If you can spare even an hour, we want to hear from you.
Sign the petition and help bring warm, shielded, night-friendly lighting to Irvine.
Sign the PetitionQuestions or want to get involved? Email us at fightglareirvine@gmail.com