Allentown's Outdoor Lighting: The Rules That Matter

Every city handles outdoor lighting a little differently. In Allentown, Pennsylvania, there are 3 distinct rules that residents and property owners should be aware of. Some are stricter than what neighboring cities enforce, and others are more relaxed. Here is what you need to know.

Light Trespass & Shielding

Allentown's zoning code requires every outdoor light source, including signs, to be diffused and shielded so it isn't directly visible from streets, sidewalks, dwellings or adjacent lots. The rule applies citywide to all uses and is enforced by the Zoning Officer under Chapter 660.

Key details: Governing section: Zoning Ordinance § 660-82.J. Applies to: All uses, all zoning districts. Core rule: Light sources must be diffused and shielded. Exempt: City/state/utility street lighting. Bare bulb limit: Under 5 bulbs of 40+ watts on a street.

The Zoning Officer enforces § 660-82.J as part of general zoning code compliance. A property owner or business found with an unshielded, undiffused, or glare-producing fixture visible from a neighbor's dwelling, a sidewalk, or the street can be cited for a zoning violation and ordered to correct the fixture (add shielding, diffusing covers, or redirect the light) to bring it into compliance. Strobe or flashing lights used outside the October 25 to January 10 holiday window are a straightforward violation with no discretion involved.

Billboard Lighting

Digital billboards and other dynamic-display signs in Allentown can't run at full brightness after dark. Zoning Ordinance § 660-105.A(4) caps illumination at 5,000 nits during the day and 500 nits between dusk and dawn, and requires every dynamic display to carry a photocell that dims it automatically as ambient light falls.

Key details: Daytime brightness cap: 5,000 nits. Dusk-to-dawn cap: 500 nits. Photocell required: automatic ambient dimming. Governing section: § 660-105.A(4). Applies to: all dynamic displays, incl. billboards.

Running a dynamic display above 5,000 nits by day or 500 nits between dusk and dawn, or without a functioning automatic-dimming photocell, violates § 660-105.A(4). The Zoning Officer can revoke the sign's permit under § 660-123.C and pursue civil penalties up to $500 per day of continued noncompliance under § 660-123.D(1).

Dark Sky Rules

Allentown's zoning performance standards require every outdoor light source, including signs, to be diffused and shielded so it does not glare into neighboring dwellings, undeveloped residential land, or the eyes of passing drivers, and bans strobe or flashing lighting outside the holiday season.

Key details: Governing section: § 660-82.J, Zoning Ordinance. Core rule: All light sources must be diffused and shielded. Bare-bulb limit: Under 5 bulbs of 40+ watts on a line. Strobe/flicker: Banned except Oct. 25-Jan. 10 holiday lights. Exempt: City, state, or utility street lighting.

An unshielded fixture that glares onto a neighboring dwelling, a strobe light used outside the October 25 to January 10 holiday window, or five or more bare 40-watt bulbs strung along a lot line violates § 660-82.J and is enforced by the Zoning Officer under § 660-123, which authorizes a correction order and, if unresolved, a civil judgment of up to $500 per day plus costs and attorney fees.

The Bottom Line

Allentown's outdoor lighting rules are a mixed bag. Some areas are strict, others are relaxed, and the details matter. The best approach is to check the specific rule that applies to your situation rather than assuming Allentown is broadly strict or permissive.

All of the above reflects Allentown's municipal code as of our last review. If you need specifics on fines, exemptions, or filing requirements, the detailed ordinance pages linked above have the full breakdown.