Frequently Asked Questions

Yes. The bylaw applies to all outdoor lighting, regardless of ownership, unless expressly exempted. However, there is a "grace" period for some lighting that was already installed on January 1, 2024, the date the bylaw went into effect (see Section 102-2) and a property owner may qualify for an administrative waiver based on unreasonable hardship or reasons related to health, safety or welfare (see Section 102-8).

No. The outdoor lighting bylaw is a General Bylaw, not a Zoning Bylaw.

No, it only regulates lighting that is installed outdoors. However, we encourage all property owners to use drapes, blinds, or shades at night to keep interior light from adding to light pollution.

In general, you can continue to use it until Jan. 1, 2029 with three exceptions:

1. Public safety hazard or lighting nuisance. Lighting found to be a public safety hazard or a lighting nuisance must be brought into compliance within 90 days of being notified by the Town.
2. Substantial renovation. When more than 50% of the total assessed value or square footage of a structure is repaired or renovated, all outdoor lighting must be brought into compliance as part of the renovation.
3. Retrofit by the Town. If the Town of Nantucket retrofits a fixture that it owns (e.g., to convert it to LED), it must bring the fixture into compliance at the time that work is done.

(Section 102-2D(1))

Request for extension: Private property owners may request an extension from the Town Manager to use and maintain a nonconforming fixture for up to 10 years from the date the fixture was installed, provided that the fixture was compliant with the requirements that existed at the time of installation, it cost $100 or more, and it can't be brought into compliance by changing the bulb/lighting element or installing shielding (Section 102-2D(2)).

Request for administrative waiver:  An administrative waiver may be granted by the Town’s Lighting Enforcement Officer if a property owner demonstrates that compliance with one or more requirements would constitute an unreasonable hardship or be detrimental to health, safety, or welfare (Section 102-8).  If the "unreasonable hardship" is the cost of compliance, please contact Nantucket Lights (NantucketLights@gmail.com) about the possibility of obtaining financial assistance. 

Yes! See the "Quick Reference" part of the Guide, where it discusses the bylaw. This lists easy ways to comply with it without delving into the details. If you do the things mentioned, you will meet, or in some cases exceed, the minimum requirements. 

It depends. If your safety and security lights are on only temporarily (e.g., controlled by a motion sensor), they are exempt from all the bylaw's requirements so you wouldn't have to replace them. Motion sensors aside, fixtures that aren't fully shielded can still be used as long as the bulb is 600 lumens or less. If you want the light to be brighter than that (e.g., for a security floodlight), you may be able to install an add-on shield that makes the fixture fully shielded and not subject to the 600 lumen cap. If you have an LED integrated fixture that isn't compliant, you may be able to buy a replacement LED module from the manufacturer to avoid having to replace the whole fixture.

Not true! Unshielded fixtures like the "onion" light are allowed under the new bylaw as long as the right bulb is used in them. The bulb must be 600 lumens or less and the color temperature must be 2700K or less. Please see the Dark Sky Products page for some bulbs that would meet these requirements. 

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Information about lumen output and color temperature (Kelvin or K value) is now generally part of the packaging or specifications for fixtures and bulbs. If it isn't, the information should be available upon request from the manufacturer. 

Note that color temperature is sometimes shown as "Light Appearance,"

It depends. 

The HDC enabling Act (available online at https://ecode360.com/15338755) states that lights are an exterior architectural feature and therefore subject to review and approval for historical appropriateness by the HDC if they are visible by the public. (See Section 2A, definition of "exterior architectural features") However, that Act also says that "Nothing in this Act shall be construed to prevent the ordinary maintenance, repair or replacement of any exterior architectural feature within the Nantucket Historic District which does not involve a change in design, material, color or the outward appearance thereof." (See Section 5(c)) (Emphasis added).

If you're unsure from this whether you need HDC approval for the fixtures you want to install, you can contact the HDC for guidance. Contact information is available at https://www.nantucket-ma.gov/283/Historic-District-Commission).

No. The building permit process only covers requirements included in the Zoning Bylaws. The outdoor lighting bylaw is a General Bylaw. 

No. This is not a requirement in the outdoor lighting bylaw.

See the Resources section of this Guide for links to some fully shielded fixtures that are commercially available.

Yes, we can help with that. Please email us at NantucketLights@gmail.com.

Yes, we can help with that. Please email us at NantucketLights@gmail.com.

Our goal is to help anyone who needs assistance in complying with the bylaw. We'll make these decisions on a case-by-case basis, based on available funds. If you would like to be considered for financial assistance, please complete the online form linked to in the Resources section of the Guide.

Turtle-friendly LEDs are LEDs with a wavelength of light (measured in nanometers) that turtles can't see and thus are not drawn to. The amber hue is similar to LEDs with a 2200K color temperature but nanometers and color temperature are not interchangeable. To learn more, click here. 

Currently, there is no need to use the special turtle-friendly LEDs on Nantucket. Sea turtles do not nest this far north and, to date, no sea turtles have been known to have successfully nested on Nantucket. However, with climate change and warming ocean temperatures, we could begin to see turtles starting to nest farther north and, in fact, there is some evidence that they are already beginning to “test the waters” on Nantucket. To learn more, click here. If sea turtles do begin to nest here, we will be sure to alert the community about the need to use different outdoor lighting to protect them.