Outdoor Lighting in Rochester, NY (2026)
2 verified outdoor lighting rules for Rochester, New York, sourced directly from the municipal code and official government pages.
Verified from official government sources
Dark Sky Rules
Every light fixture in Rochester has to be a concealed-source fixture, security lighting must be shielded and can't top a building's roofline, and exterior wall-mounted floodlights are banned outright, under City Code § 120-170A. The rule applies citywide, in every zoning district, not just to one neighborhood.
Rochester Bans Exterior Floodlights, Requires Shielded Fixtures
Some RestrictionsRochester City Code § 120-170A(2)-(6)
A. Standards. (2) Pedestrian areas, plazas and walk lights shall not exceed 15 feet in height and should be designed to be harmonious with light fixtures on site. (3) All light fixtures shall be concealed source fixtures except for pedestrian-oriented accent lights. (4) Security lighting fixtures shall not project above the facade or roofline of any building and are to be shielded. Lighting shi...
Light Trespass & Shielding
No use in Rochester may produce a strong, dazzling light or glare visible from any point along a property line, under City Code § 120-170A(1). The rule applies to every zoning district under Article XX, so a neighbor's uncovered fixture that throws glare across the line is a code violation.
Rochester Bars Dazzling Light or Glare at Lot Lines
Some RestrictionsRochester City Code § 120-170A(1)
A. Standards. (1) No use shall produce a strong, dazzling light or reflection of a strong, dazzling light or glare that is visible from any point along a lot line.
Looking for Monroe County county-wide rules?
County ordinances apply to unincorporated areas and may supplement Rochester city rules.
Outdoor Lighting in Monroe County →