Optimization of the light source layout is an important issue for indoor visible light communication systems, as it affects the received optical power distribution and user perception. In this paper, we propose a local optimization strategy for the light source layout that balances optimization effectiveness with optimization efficiency. First, we divide the optimization region into multiple sub-regions with different sizes and optimization priorities, where the sizes and optimization priorities of the individual sub-regions are determined based on the effect minimization principle among the sub-regions. We then calculate the pre-bias factor based on the equivalent mapping, which can compensate for the effect of the light sources in the latter optimized sub-region on the source layout optimization in the current sub-region. Finally, we search for the coordinate of a single light source for each sub-region using the variance of the squared distance between the projection of the light source on the receiving plane and the received point as a fitness function. Simulation results show that the proposed optimization strategy performs well when the vertical distance between the ceiling and the receiving plane is not less than 2.85 m.