Sacramento County does not provide funding for the installation of new street light systems. In newly developing areas, street lights are installed by developers as a condition of approval of their development. In developed areas without lights, street lights may be installed by homeowners or business groups through formation of an assessment district, or by hiring an electrical contractor to install County standard lights under a County encroachment permit. Other agencies may fund the installation of lights.
The following is specific information regarding New Street Light and Safety Light Installations.
Property Owner Installed Streetlight
roperty owners may wish to hire a consulting engineer to design a County standard street light system and an electrical contractor to install County standard street lights. The installation in the County road right of way may be authorized under an encroachment permit or the improvement plan process. The street light installation must meet County standards and must be inspected and accepted by the County. After County acceptance, new street lights will be operated and maintained by the County, and a direct levy for these services will be added to the annual property tax bill.
Contact Information
827 7th Street, Room 105, Sacramento CA 95814
Phone: 916-874-6544
DSSTechResWeb@SacCounty.net
SMUD Night Lights
Sacramento Municipal Utilities District (SMUD) can install "Night Light" fixtures on existing SMUD poles. SMUD supplies, installs and maintains the light fixture and bills the property owner directly for the service on the property owner's monthly utility bill. The County is not involved.
Contact Information
For additional information contact:
Sacramento Municipal Utilities District
Customer Service Center
Phone: (888) 742-7683
Email: www.smud.org
SMUD Safety Lights
Safety Lights are street lights which are located on major roads at intersections. Installations are limited to locations which have existing SMUD poles in the proper location.
SMUD Safety Light installations at intersections on major streets are accomplished by the County of Sacramento. Department of Transportation engineering staff assesses the proposed location. If the installation criteria are met, and funding is available, the Department coordinates with SMUD to install the lights on existing utility owned poles.
Contact Information
For more information regarding safety light installations contact:
Amandeep Singh, Senior Civil Engineer
Phone: 916-874-2861
Email: singha@saccounty.gov
County Service Area 1 Benefit Category Change
County Service Area 1 (CSA1) provides funds for the maintenance and operation of street and safety lights in Sacramento County. Funds are collected as a direct levy on the annual property tax bills.
When a development has a condition of approval stating: “…the property shall be included in County Service Area No. 1, or some other financing mechanism to the satisfaction of the Director of Transportation, at a rate that will fund the full cost of operating and maintaining the street and safety lights for that development, including an annual escalation factor“, an assessment ballot procedure may be required, in order to change to an Enhanced or Decorative benefit category.
Department of Transportation staff will review the subdivision map and conditions of approval to determine if an assessment ballot is necessary. If no street lights are required with the development, or if the enhanced or decorative street light benefit categories are not applicable to the development, the condition is satisfied. Department of Transportation staff will notify Development and Surveyor Services.
If a ballot procedure is required, Department of Transportation or Community Development staff will send an application form to the applicant. The applicant will return the application form with a check for the fee to the Infrastructure Finance Section, where the ballot will be prepared and the public hearing scheduled. Because the law requires a 45-day notice period prior to the public hearing, applicants should start the process as early as possible.
Contact Information
Amandeep Singh, Senior Civil Engineer
Phone: (916) 874-2861
Email: singha@saccounty.gov