Guidelines for residents

Lighting guidelines

Excessive outdoor lighting alters the community character of rural areas.  Even in Sonoma Valley and on the mountains that define Sonoma Valley, increasing development of previously vacant land has resulted in significant increases in nighttime light, which is produced primarily by upward pointing or upward reflected light from outdoor lighting.

Light trespass is a result of "spill light" shining in undesirable locations, such as a neighbor’s backyard or bedroom window. Spill light is light cast beyond the parameters of useful light or the intended area to be lit. Typical examples include security lights or landscape lights that are not angled or shielded correctly and invade areas on a neighbor’s property that are desired to be kept darker.

Spill light shining into neighboring homes at night can disrupt sleep patterns and internal cycles in humans. In addition, disturbing the natural patterns of light and dark in adjacent habitats can disrupt many aspects of animal behaviors and life cycles, including nesting, feeding, and pollination.

While other jurisdictions such as San Diego County and the City of Malibu have developed ordinances that are patterned on Dark Sky International, Sonoma County has thus far limited its mandates to a section of the Taylor/Sonoma/Mayacamas Scenic Guidelines (Code of Ordinances 26-90-120).

Since Diamond A is located within the boundaries defined by this ordinance, we provide the following guidelines:

1. Exterior lighting shall be downward facing, fully shielded, and located at the lowest possible point to the ground to prevent glare and light pollution

2. Light fixtures shall not be located at the periphery of the property and shall not spill over onto adjacent properties or into the night sky

3. Luminaires shall have a maximum output of 1000 lumens per fixture

4. Total illuminance beyond the property line created by simultaneous operation of all exterior lighting shall not exceed 1.0 lux

5. All roadway, parking, and driveway lights shall be low profile utilizing full cut-off fixtures

6. Flood lights are not allowed

7. If security lighting is necessary, it shall be motion-sensor activated only

Littering and roadside debris

It is against the law to litter. If any member of the Diamond A community observes littering and can identify the person(s) responsible for the littering, the activity should be reported to the California Highway Patrol.

“Litter” means the discarding, dropping, or scattering of small quantities of waste matter ordinarily carried on or about the person, including, but not limited to, beverage containers and closures, packaging, wrappers, wastepaper, newspapers, and magazines, in a place other than a place or container for the proper disposal thereof, and including waste matter that escapes or is allowed to escape from a container, receptacle, or package.

The punishment for documented first-time littering starts at a minimum $250 fine and eight hours of picking up roadside litter. A defendant's third offense and all subsequent offenses are punished with a maximum penalty of a $3,000 fine and 24 hours of litter cleanup (per offense).

To actively discourage littering, we advise all Diamond A property owners who contract with workers outside of Diamond A (either for construction or landscaping projects) to remind them of our desire to stop littering. This PDF can be printed and shared with any and all work crews. The same strategy can be used to inform any other visitors to Diamond A.

For large objects, such as furniture, Diamond A Community members should use SoCo Connect. More information about SoCo Connect is available on our Sonoma County services page.

Noise guidelines

Objective 

The noise reduction guidelines below have been developed by several members of Diamond A, suggesting that if we all use common courtesy to reduce unusually loud noises in Diamond A, we can improve and preserve our great rural environment. 

Sound travels widely in our community, and can be heard by neighbors even at some distance. Please review the suggested guidelines and consider them in the applicable situations. Since there is no central noise enforcement authority in Diamond A, we provide the following context and guidelines.

Background

There are a number of events and activities that may intrude upon the lives of neighbors. They include:

• Early or late hour movements of heavy equipment on the roads to/from a project site

• Jack-hammering or the like during a major remodel/new construction

• Weed whacking, chain saws, chippers, power blowers, or garden tractor use

• Controllable animal noises (e.g., dog barking, exotic bird and some farm animal sounds)

Effective approaches to use with neighbors

Communicate with neighbors who are in close proximity to you to give them a heads-up on upcoming remodeling, renovation or similar projects. Offer to be advised by the neighbors of any related concerns or issues that arise as a result of your project.

If you have a problem relative to noise emanating from a specific neighbor’s property, contact that person directly, objectively state your issue, and ask for that person’s cooperation.

Suggested guidelines for noise reduction

The suggested guidelines listed below apply to owners doing their own work on their property, as well as to contractors/laborers employed by an owner. Communicate the guidelines at the beginning of a project to any outside personnel employed, and request that the guidelines be followed. 

Project work hours (including the movement of heavy equipment/trucks on our roads):

Monday - Saturday:   7 a.m. to 6 p.m.

• Whenever possible, the loudest/most disruptive work should be scheduled on weekdays

Sundays and national holidays

• Schedule interior or exterior work to avoid intrusively noisy work on these days

If you feel an exception is necessary, discuss it with your nearby neighbors ahead of time.

Pet noise reduction guidelines:

• Easily excitable pets should not be left unattended outside at any time, especially during the summer months when many people have their windows open

Personal party noise guidelines:

• If you are planning a large affair that involves a number of guests, contact your neighbors in advance

• Private events held outdoors should begin after 8 a.m. and conclude by 10:00 p.m., if at all possible

• Owners should heed and respect neighbors’ concerns about exceptionally loud noise emanating from their properties any time of day or night, regardless of who is creating the noise

• To harmonize with the Sonoma County General Plan "Noise Element" section, amplification of either voice or music at an average level greater than 50 decibels over a 30 minute period should be avoided unless it originates from an event at the Diamond A Recreation Center