The City of Redding has had a street light policy for several years. The Public Works Department determines the necessity for all new roadway lighting (street lights), and the Electric Department determines the electrical service requirements for roadway lighting.

The City of Redding’s policy for installing street lights is typically as follows:

New subdivisions, at all intersections, spaced typically at approximately 100-to 200-foot intervals.

On existing wood poles, at inter- sections, and approximately every other pole thereafter.

New installations in existing under- ground districts are the responsibility of the property owner(s) to install all necessary facilities to current City standards.

Some of the questions most frequently asked about street lights are answered below:

Q: What is the difference between a street light and a night light?

A: A street light provides the lighting pattern for a roadway. A night light, sometimes called a privacy light, is installed on utility poles and is not intended to provide lighting for the public roadway.

Q: How do I get a street light installed?

A: All customer requests for a street light should be forwarded to the City of Redding’s Public Works Department. If it is determined that a street light is warranted and adequate secondary distribution on wood poles exists, then the City of Redding will cover the cost to install the street light on the wood pole.

Street lights requested in existing under- ground areas are approved by the Public Works Department, designed by the Electric Department, and installed by the customer at his/her expense.

Q: How do I get a night light installed?

A: All customer requests for a night light (privacy light) should be made to the City of Redding’s Customer Service Department. The Customer Service Department will forward the request to the Electric Department for review.

If an existing pole with adequate distribution facilities exists, there will not be a charge to install the light. However, the customer will be charged a monthly rate for electricity, in accordance with the City of Redding’s Municipal Utilities - Schedule of Rates.

Any costs to provide night lighting where adequate facilities do not already exist will be at the expense of the customer.

Q: What is the appropriate process to have a night light removed?

A: Night lights are normally removed at the request of the party originally establishing the account or for nonpayment. However, if a valid complaint from a neighbor is received concerning a night light, and the complaint cannot be resolved, the night light will be removed. The customer paying for the night light will be notified.

Q: Whom do I call to trim trees for street and/or night lights?

A: If a tree is within 10 feet of the high voltage (12000-volt and above) power lines and obscures a street light, a customer may call the City of Redding’s Electric Department to trim the tree. However, if the street light is obscured by a tree and there are not any high voltage power lines surrounding the street light, then the customer may call the City of Redding’s Parks Division to trim the tree. Since a night light is installed at the request of a customer, the cost to trim trees on private property for a night light will be the responsibility of the customer.

Q: Whom do I call when a street light is out?

A: If a street light is out, or the street light stays on all day, or the bulb is not bright enough, then the Electric Department should be called at 245-7000 to schedule repairs.

Other traffic information available on-line:

• Children at Play
• Crosswalks
• Pedestrian Signals
• Speed Limits
• Stop Signs
• Traffic Safety Tips
• Traffic Signal Systems