SacDOT maintains several different lighting categories:

• Intersection Safety Lighting
• Street Lights
• Decorative Lights
• Proposed Changes

Click the above links to learn what distinguishes these lighting categories and proposed changes.

Intersection Safety Lighting

Intersection Safety Lighting is the overhead lighting located at major intersections to illuminate street signs, road markings and crosswalks. This lighting helps drivers and emergency response teams see important safety markings and street signs, as well as see bicyclists and pedestrians. Intersection safety lighting also helps pedestrians cross previously dark streets.

Because intersection safety lighting benefits all property owners, maintenance costs are shared by all property owners in unincorporated Sacramento County, and separately, in Rancho Cordova.

For those who do not have street lights on their streets, the current annual service charge is $2.56 per parcel (21¢ per month) for both residential and commercial parcels of all sizes.

What is the proposed rate for my property?
How will my neighborhood benefit from the Sacramento Intersection Safety Lighting Program?

Back to Top

Street Lights

Street lights are the lights located along streets in residential and commercial areas. These lights help illuminate dark streets to enhance safety for pedestrians and bicyclists and to discourage crime. Street lights also help visitors and emergency response teams find street names and address numbers.

Properties located on streets with street lights are assessed a maintenance charge that supports both street lights and intersection safety lighting. The total current annual charge is $17.88 ($1.49 a month) per single-family residential property and $0.2519/front foot plus $2.56 annually for commercial property. (Note: Condominiums and very small residential properties have individualized rates. Check the rate calculator.)

What is the proposed rate for my property?
How will my neighborhood benefit from the Sacramento Safe Street Lighting Program?

Back to Top

Decorative Street Lights

Decorative street lights are desighed to look like old coach lanterns or gas lamps. They are usually mounted on a painted poll and may have a decorative base. They add unique charm to neighborhoods, while providing the same safety features as traditional street lights. However, decorative lights can cost five times more to replace and also require more maintenance, such as painting the poles and cleaning the faceted globes, which attract spiders and other insects. Because of the funding shortage, SacDOT has not been able to adequately maintain decorative lights, which has led to peeling paint and dirty globes.

Properties located on streets with decorative street lights are currently assessed the same rate as those served by traditional street lights.

What is the proposed rate for my property?
How will my neighborhood benefit from the Sacramento Safe Street Lighting Program?

Back to Top

Proposed Changes