Englewood vs Ridgewood
How do dark sky rules rules compare between Englewood, NJ and Ridgewood, NJ?
Englewood and Ridgewood have similar restriction levels.
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 →Ridgewood, NJ
Bergen County
Ridgewood Chapter 194 governs outdoor lighting, capping exposed light sources at one lumen per square foot and barring fixtures that create nuisance across property lines.
View full Ridgewood rules →Key Facts Comparison
| Fact | Englewood | Ridgewood |
|---|---|---|
| County dark-sky law | None | - |
| Municipal scope | Site plan review | - |
| Common requirement | Full-cutoff fixtures | - |
| Photometric plans | Required commercially | - |
| Curfew typical | 11pm shutoff common | - |
| Code chapter | - | Chapter 194 Lighting |
| Lumen cap | - | 1 lumen per sq ft |
| Direct cast | - | Not on dwellings |
| Residential nuisance | - | Prohibited |
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.
Ridgewood FAQ
What is the brightness limit for outdoor lights in Ridgewood?
Exposed light sources may not exceed one lumen per square foot, a standard designed to reduce glare and protect neighbors from intrusive lighting.
Are flood lights allowed in Ridgewood?
Yes, but they must be shielded so light is not cast directly onto nearby dwellings and they cannot create a nuisance across property lines.
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