Huntington's Outdoor Lighting: The Rules That Matter

Every city handles outdoor lighting a little differently. In Huntington, New York, 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.

Dark Sky Rules

Every exterior light fixture installed in Huntington must be fully shielded and aimed straight down, with mounted height capped at 25 feet and searchlights, lasers and flashing lights banned outright. Section 143-6(B) sets the shielding mandate, with narrow lumen-based exceptions for small residential fixtures.

Key details: Shielding mandate: Fully shielded, downward, § 143-6(B). Max mounted height: 25 ft, or 20 ft near residential. Small-fixture exception: 900 lumens unshielded residential. Floodlight exception: Under 1,800 lumens, 45-degree angle. Banned outright: Mercury vapor, laser, flashing lights.

Installing or maintaining an unshielded, upward-aimed or prohibited fixture (wall packs, searchlights, laser lights, flashing lights or mercury vapor lamps) violates § 143-6 and is punished under § 143-16: a fine of $500 to $1,500, with each day of noncompliance a separate offense. The Bureau of Administrative Adjudication can impose the same fines, and the Town Attorney may pursue an injunction or civil penalties up to $250 per day.

Light Trespass & Shielding

Huntington's outdoor lighting code bars any luminaire from throwing glare or direct illumination across a property line onto a neighbor's land. Section 143-7(B) forbids commercial and multi-family lighting that creates a nuisance or hazard for adjacent property, and § 143-13(A) applies the identical ban to single-family and two-family homes.

Key details: Defined term: 'Light trespass', § 143-3. Commercial/multi-family ban: § 143-7(B). Single/two-family ban: § 143-13(A), same standard. Grandfather loses protection: If trespass occurs, § 143-2(C)(1). Site plan check: 20-ft photometric grid, § 143-12(A)(5).

A light trespass violation is enforced under § 143-16 like any other Chapter 143 breach: a fine of not less than $500 and not more than $1,500, with every day the offending fixture stays uncorrected treated as a new offense. The Bureau of Administrative Adjudication can levy the same fine range, and the Town Attorney may seek a court order compelling compliance or an injunction, plus civil penalties of up to $250 per day.

Billboard Lighting

Huntington bans billboards outright, but for the on-premises signs it does allow, § 198-95(C) controls how they can be lit: illumination cannot be cast toward residentially-zoned property, directly lit facial signs must sit at least fifty feet from a residential boundary, and tall illuminated freestanding signs face the same fifty-foot buffer.

Key details: Section: § 198-95(C). Billboards: Banned Town-wide (§ 198-93B). Light-trespass rule: Cannot cast toward residential property. Facial sign buffer: 50 ft from residential boundary. Tall freestanding buffer: 50 ft if over 10 ft tall.

Violating the sign-illumination standards in § 198-95(C) is enforced the same way as other Article XIV sign violations, under § 198-125(A): a $1,000-$5,000 fine for a first offense, $2,000-$10,000 for a second offense within five years, and $4,000-$15,000 or up to six months in jail for a third or later offense, with continuing violations charged daily.

The Bottom Line

Huntington'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 Huntington is broadly strict or permissive.

All of the above reflects Huntington'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.