Save the Night | Be the Solution, Stop Light Pollution

Nantucket Lights
Nantucket Lights
  • Home
  • About Us
  • ACK Light Pollution
    • How bad is it?
    • Sky Quality Monitoring
    • Outdoor Lighting Bylaw
    • Proposed New Bylaw
    • Residential
    • Businesses
    • Town Properties
    • Streetlights
    • Light Trespass
    • Lighting of Flags
    • Boating Safety
  • How You Can Help
  • Resources
  • Five Principles to Follow
  • Guide for Residences
  • Outdoor Lighting Handout
  • Bumper Sticker
  • Discover the Night Tee
  • Dark Sky Places Program
  • What about safety?
  • In the News
  • Photo Gallery
  • Blog
  • Press Release Archive
  • Contact Us
  • More
    • Home
    • About Us
    • ACK Light Pollution
      • How bad is it?
      • Sky Quality Monitoring
      • Outdoor Lighting Bylaw
      • Proposed New Bylaw
      • Residential
      • Businesses
      • Town Properties
      • Streetlights
      • Light Trespass
      • Lighting of Flags
      • Boating Safety
    • How You Can Help
    • Resources
    • Five Principles to Follow
    • Guide for Residences
    • Outdoor Lighting Handout
    • Bumper Sticker
    • Discover the Night Tee
    • Dark Sky Places Program
    • What about safety?
    • In the News
    • Photo Gallery
    • Blog
    • Press Release Archive
    • Contact Us
  • Home
  • About Us
  • ACK Light Pollution
    • How bad is it?
    • Sky Quality Monitoring
    • Outdoor Lighting Bylaw
    • Proposed New Bylaw
    • Residential
    • Businesses
    • Town Properties
    • Streetlights
    • Light Trespass
    • Lighting of Flags
    • Boating Safety
  • How You Can Help
  • Resources
  • Five Principles to Follow
  • Guide for Residences
  • Outdoor Lighting Handout
  • Bumper Sticker
  • Discover the Night Tee
  • Dark Sky Places Program
  • What about safety?
  • In the News
  • Photo Gallery
  • Blog
  • Press Release Archive
  • Contact Us

Nantucket's Outdoor Lighting Bylaw

Chapter 102 of the Nantucket Code

This Bylaw was adopted at a Town Meeting in 2005 to eliminate glare that can annoy neighbors and create safety problems, minimize light trespass, reduce the energy and financial costs of outdoor lighting, preserve the rural nature of the island, enhance nighttime enjoyment of property and protect property values, and enhance the enjoyment of the night sky.


Its key provisions are summarized below. Violations are subject to a penalty of $100 each day a violation continues. 


Enforcement is largely complaint-based.  If you suspect a violation, it can be reported to Nantucket's Lighting Enforcement Officer. 

However, please try to talk to the owner/manager of the property first to see if they are willing to make changes without involving him -- they may not even be aware of the bylaw!


Nantucket's Lighting Enforcement Officer:   

Marcus Silverstein

508-325-7587, Ext. 7021 

msilverstein@nantucket-ma.gov 


Download and Print Copy of Bylaw (PDF)

Residential Properties

Residential Properties

Residential Properties

The following are prohibited for residential exterior lighting (with certain limited exceptions) if the lighting output is more than 600 lumens (about 40 watts incandescent and 7 watts LED).  


  • Fixtures that allow the light source to be directly visible from adjacent and neighboring properties or public rights-of-way (Section 102-3B)
  • Ground-mounted floodlighting and floodlighting that is not down-directed and fully-shielded (Section 102-4D)
  • Uplighting of an entrance that is not under a roof, eave or other architectural element (Section 102-4A(1))
  • Uplighting of building facades, trees, and shrubs (Section 102-4B and C)
  • Blinking, flashing, moving, revolving, scintillating, flickering, changing intensity and changing color lights except for temporary holiday displays (Section 102-5C)
  • Safety and security lighting that does not have a motion sensor, photocell or timer to control the duration of nighttime illumination (Section 102-4E)
  • Any architectural lighting that does not comply with relevant HDC guidelines and application procedures (Section 102-5A)


Note: The restriction on using lighting for recreational purposes after 10:00 pm (Section 102-4F) has been construed by the Town to not apply to residential pools. 


See the bylaw itself (click here) for more detail, including additional restrictions, and contact the Lighting Enforcement Officer with any questions

Commercial Properties

Residential Properties

Residential Properties

The following restrictions apply to exterior lighting on commercial properties where the lighting output is more than 600 lumens (about 40 watts incandescent and 7 watts LED). 


  • All exterior lighting (except floodlights) shall be contained in fixtures with an opaque top and translucent sides (partially shielded) such that the light source is not directly visible from adjacent and neighboring properties or public rights-of-way. (Section 102-3B)  
  • Commercial property or properties containing mixed uses with a commercial component may not have lighting which exceeds the average minimum levels listed in the IESNA Recommended Publications. (Chapter 102-3D)  
  • Parking area lights in commercial areas are encouraged to be greater in number, lower in height and lower in light level, as opposed to fewer in number, higher in height and higher in light level. Parking lot lighting shall not exceed average minimum IESNA recommended values. (Chapter 102-3E)
  • Pedestrian area lighting shall be fully shielded or full cutoff, not to exceed 12 feet in height, with illumination levels no higher than the average minimum IESNA recommended values. (Chapter 102-3F)  
  • No exterior lighting may be used in any manner that could interfere with the safe movement of motor vehicles on publicly traveled ways. (Chapter 102-3G)  
  • Uplighting is not permitted except when used as to light a primary entrance or a local, state or national flag, and, even then, certain restrictions apply. (Chapter 102-4A and 102-4B)  
  • Floodlighting is only permitted when it is down-directed and fully-shielded such that the lamp is not visible from adjacent and/or neighboring properties. Ground-mounted floodlighting of a structure is prohibited. (Chapter 102-4D)  
  • Safety and security lighting shall use motion sensors, photocells, or photocell/timers to control duration of nighttime illumination. (Chapter 102-4E) 
  •  Linear architectural highlighting (including rope lighting) primarily intended as an architectural highlight to attract attention or used as a means of identification or advertisement is discouraged and must be turned off 30 minutes after the close of public hours. (Chapter 102-5B)  
  • Blinking, flashing, moving, revolving, scintillating, flickering, changing intensity and changing color lights shall be prohibited except for temporary holiday displays, lighting for public safety or traffic control, or lighting required by the FAA for air traffic control and warning purposes. (Chapter 102-5C)
  • The use of lighting for recreational purposes after 10:00 pm (Section 102-4F)


Some exemptions apply: See Chapter 102

Town Property

Residential Properties

Town Property

The following restrictions apply to exterior lighting on properties owned by the Town, where the lighting output is more than 600 lumens (about 40 watts incandescent and 7 watts LED). Exemptions apply where a deviation is shown to provide "demonstrable community and/or health, safety, and welfare benefits."


  • Pedestrian area lighting shall be fully shielded or full cutoff, not exceed 12 feet in height, with illumination levels no higher than the average minimum IESNA recommended values. (Chapter 102-3F)  
  • No exterior lighting may be used in any manner that could interfere with the safe movement of motor vehicles on publicly traveled ways. Specifically, all roadway lights and area lights along roadways must be shielded to prevent glare as seen from the road and only placed in areas deemed necessary for safety. Full cutoff fixtures are preferred. (Chapter 102-3G)  
  • Highlighting, or illumination, of building facades by use of uplighting is prohibited. (Chapter 102-4B)  
  • Floodlighting is only permitted when it is down-directed and fully-shielded such that the lamp is not visible from adjacent and/or neighboring properties. Ground-mounted floodlighting of a structure is prohibited. (Chapter 102-4D)  
  • Safety and security lighting shall use motion sensors, photocells, or photocell/timers to control duration of nighttime illumination. (Chapter 102-4E)
  • Linear architectural highlighting (including rope lighting) primarily intended as an architectural highlight to attract attention or used as a means of identification or advertisement is discouraged and must be turned off 30 minutes after the close of public hours. (Chapter 102-5B)  
  • Blinking, flashing, moving, revolving, scintillating, flickering, changing intensity and changing color lights shall be prohibited except for temporary holiday displays, lighting for public safety or traffic control, or lighting required by the FAA for air traffic control and warning purposes. (Chapter 102-5C)
  • The use of lighting for recreational purposes after 10:00 pm (Section 102-4F)



Copyright © 2023 Nantucket Lights - All Rights Reserved.

  • Home
  • About Us
  • How You Can Help
  • Resources
  • Five Principles to Follow
  • Photo Gallery
  • Blog
  • Contact Us

Powered by GoDaddy Website Builder

Cookie Notice

We use cookies to analyze website traffic to make our website better. By accepting our use of cookies, your data will be aggregated with all other user data. If you decline, your data will not be retained. Thank you for visiting!

DeclineAccept

Do you want to help preserve Nantucket's dark skies?

The more supporters we have, the more influential we can be. Join our email list to show your support for our mission and to get updates, calls to action, and other important information delivered directly to your inbox. 

Sign-Up