Outdoor Lighting in New Bedford, MA (2026)
2 verified outdoor lighting rules for New Bedford, Massachusetts, sourced directly from the municipal code and official government pages.
Verified from official government sources
Dark Sky Rules
New development inside New Bedford's Kings Highway transit-oriented overlay district must meet Illuminating Engineering Society of North America design guidelines for outdoor lighting, providing needed safety illumination while reducing skyglow. The standard sits in the overlay district's design chapter, not a citywide fixture-shielding law.
New Bedford Overlay District Dark-Sky Lighting Rule
Light RestrictionsZoning Ordinance § 4273B(iii)
4273B(iii). Lighting. Light levels shall meet or exceed the minimum design guidelines defined by the Illuminating Engineering Society of North America (IESNA) and shall provide the illumination necessary for safety and convenience while preventing glare and overspill onto adjoining properties and reducing the amount of skyglow.
Light Trespass & Shielding
Any New Bedford project big enough to trigger Site Plan Review, generally 2,000 square feet of new commercial space or four or more residential units, must be designed to minimize glare from vehicle headlights and lighting fixtures spilling onto neighboring property, under the Zoning Ordinance's site plan approval standards.
New Bedford Site Plan Glare Mitigation Rule
Some RestrictionsZoning Ordinance § 5471(v)
5471. Meet the following minimum design requirements: ... v.Minimize glare from vehicle headlights and lighting fixtures;vi.Minimize unreasonable departure from the character, materials, and scale of buildings in the vicinity as viewed from public ways and places.
Looking for Bristol County county-wide rules?
County ordinances apply to unincorporated areas and may supplement New Bedford city rules.
Outdoor Lighting in Bristol County →