Outdoor Lighting in Portland, ME (2026)
2 verified outdoor lighting rules for Portland, Maine, sourced directly from the municipal code and official government pages.
Verified from official government sources
Dark Sky Rules
Portland's Land Use Code makes full cut-off fixtures the citywide standard for exterior lighting on developed sites, requiring light to be aimed down onto the property rather than spilling onto neighbors. The rule sits in Article 6's performance standards, applies to all uses under the Code effective July 1, 2026, and is echoed by a separate hooded-or-shielded requirement written specifically for office park developments.
Portland, ME Full Cut-Off Lighting Rule
Some RestrictionsPortland Code of Ordinances, Land Use Code Art. 6, § 6.8.4 (eff. 7/1/2026)
All exterior lighting shall be designed and installed with full cut-off fixtures to direct illumination onto the site and to prevent illumination from such fixtures on neighboring properties in accordance with the City of Portland Technical Manual.
Light Trespass & Shielding
Every exterior light fixture installed under Portland's Land Use Code must use full cut-off optics that aim illumination onto the site itself, not onto the neighbors. Land Use Code § 6.8.4 makes this a citywide performance standard for all uses, tying compliance to the City of Portland Technical Manual's site-lighting specifications, with the Code Enforcement Officer empowered to act on violations.
Portland Exterior Lighting Trespass Limits
Some RestrictionsPortland Code of Ordinances § 6.8.4 (Land Use Code, eff. 7/1/2026)
6.8.4 Exterior lighting All exterior lighting shall be designed and installed with full cut-off fixtures to direct illumination onto the site and to prevent illumination from such fixtures on neighboring properties in accordance with the City of Portland Technical Manual.