In California Title 24 extensively covers all manner of lighting and the switching thereof.
So, they are covered by the Building Code -- just not the National Electrical Code.
It's not enough to just know the NEC. There are many, many, Code requirements that affect electrical installations that are driven by non-electrical safetly considerations.
Parking lot illumination is but one of the many.
Such complexity is why residential electricians normally lose their shirts when shifting over to commercial jobs. (And vice versa.)
