Outdoor Lighting in Trenton, NJ (2026)
3 verified outdoor lighting rules for Trenton, New Jersey, sourced directly from the municipal code and official government pages.
Verified from official government sources
Dark Sky Rules
Trenton limits outdoor lighting to one footcandle at any lot line and requires every luminaire to use full cutoff or semi-cutoff optics under City Code § 315-9.3. Freestanding fixtures over 18 inches for nonresidential uses must sit at least 5 feet from a residential lot line, and pole height is capped at 20 feet in nonresidential districts and 15 feet in residential districts.
Trenton Outdoor Lighting Cutoff Standards
Some RestrictionsTrenton Code § 315-9.3.B(1)-(5)
The maximum allowable footcandle at any lot line is one footcandle. All luminaires must be either full cutoff or semi-cutoff luminaire design. Any freestanding luminaire for a nonresidential use over 18 inches in height must be located at least 5 feet from a residential district lot line. The maximum total height of a freestanding luminaire is 20 feet in a nonresidential district, and 15 feet i...
Light Trespass & Shielding
Trenton caps outdoor lighting at one footcandle measured at any lot line and requires every outdoor luminaire to be full-cutoff or semi-cutoff and shielded so no glare reaches adjacent lots or the right-of-way. The zoning code separately bans glare of any kind from crossing a lot line under its performance standards.
Trenton Light Trespass and Glare Limits
Some RestrictionsTrenton Code § 315-9.3.B
Lighting Standards. The maximum allowable footcandle at any lot line is one footcandle. All luminaires must be either full cutoff or semi-cutoff luminaire design. Any freestanding luminaire for a nonresidential use over 18 inches in height must be located at least 5 feet from a residential district lot line. The maximum total height of a freestanding luminaire is 20 feet in a nonresidential dis...
Billboard Lighting
Trenton caps sign and billboard illumination at one foot-candle measured at the lot line under § 315-12.4, and limits electronic message sign brightness to 5,000 nits by day and 500 nits between dusk and dawn, with an automatic dimmer required to make the switch.
Trenton Billboard and Sign Lighting Limits
Some RestrictionsTrenton Code § 315-12.4
A. Any sign illumination, including gooseneck reflectors, external illumination, and internal illumination, must be designed, located, shielded, and directed to prevent the casting of glare or direct light upon roadways and surrounding properties, and prevent the distraction of motor vehicle operators or pedestrians in the public right-of-way. F. The maximum allowable foot-candle at the lot lin...
Looking for Mercer County county-wide rules?
County ordinances apply to unincorporated areas and may supplement Trenton city rules.
Outdoor Lighting in Mercer County →