Kitchen lighting in Redwood City, CA

Planning the layers

Recessed fixtures or a surface-mounted fixture provide general light. LED strips under the upper cabinets put light where you chop. Pendants over an island or peninsula add focused light and a design element.

Energy code requirements

California's Title 24 energy standards call for high-efficacy lighting in kitchens. Atherton's kitchen handout, for example, asks that general kitchen lighting be high efficiency and switched separately from other rooms. A remodeler plans fixtures and controls together so the inspection goes smoothly.

Lighting terms

Color temperature: how warm or cool light looks, measured in kelvins. CRI: how accurately a light source shows colors. Lumens: a measure of light output. IC-rated: a recessed fixture that may touch insulation. Vacancy sensor: a control that turns lights off when a room is empty.

Permits in Redwood City

Redwood City requires a building permit for any work that section 105.2 of the California Building Code does not exempt; the City's FAQ names painting, flooring and similar finish work as typical exempt residential items.
Applications are filed online through the City's eTRAKiT portal. Residential interior remodels can qualify for One-Stop plan review, in which Building Division staff review the plans with the applicant at City Hall.
The City says plan review takes 6 to 24 weeks depending on scope. A permit is valid for 365 days from issuance, and each passed inspection extends it another 365 days.

City of Redwood City Building Division · (650) 780-7350, permits@redwoodcity.org

Common questions

How bright should kitchen lighting be?

It depends on ceiling height, fixture output and finishes. A lighting plan with the estimate shows each fixture's location and purpose.

Is a permit needed for new kitchen lights?

New fixtures, switches or circuits are electrical work that generally needs a permit. Ask the permit office how it treats a simple fixture swap on an existing box.