Englewood vs Fort Lee
How do dark sky rules rules compare between Englewood, NJ and Fort Lee, NJ?
Fort Lee has fewer restrictions than Englewood.
Englewood, NJ
Bergen County
Bergen County has no countywide dark-sky ordinance. Outdoor lighting is regulated through municipal zoning codes, with most Bergen County towns requiring shielded fixtures and limiting glare in residential and commercial site plans.
View full Englewood rules →Fort Lee, NJ
Bergen County
Fort Lee's zoning code regulates outdoor lighting to minimize glare, sky glow, and trespass onto adjacent properties through fixture shielding, height limits, and illumination level standards in non-residential developments.
View full Fort Lee rules →Key Facts Comparison
| Fact | Englewood | Fort Lee |
|---|---|---|
| County dark-sky law | None | - |
| Municipal scope | Site plan review | - |
| Common requirement | Full-cutoff fixtures | - |
| Photometric plans | Required commercially | - |
| Curfew typical | 11pm shutoff common | - |
| Cutoff fixtures | - | Generally required |
| Photometric plan | - | Site plan review |
| Sky glow | - | Minimized |
| Residential | - | Lighter rules |
Highlighted rows indicate differences between cities.
Englewood FAQ
Does Bergen County require dark-sky-compliant lighting?
Not at the county level. Bergen County leaves outdoor lighting standards to its 70 municipalities, most of which require shielded fixtures and limit glare through zoning and site plan rules.
What is a full-cutoff fixture?
A fixture that emits zero light above the horizontal plane, directing all illumination downward. Most Bergen County towns require these for new commercial and many residential outdoor lights.
Are there curfews on outdoor lighting?
Many Bergen County municipalities require non-essential commercial lighting to dim or shut off after business hours, often 11pm. Specific rules vary by town and zone.
Fort Lee FAQ
Do I need approval for backyard string lights?
Decorative string lights for residential use generally do not need approval, but they must not create glare into neighboring bedrooms or be left on overnight in a way that creates a nuisance.
What is a full cutoff fixture?
A full cutoff fixture is one designed so no light is emitted above the horizontal plane through the lowest part of the fixture, eliminating glare and uplight that contribute to sky glow.
Compare other topics
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