2 county-level rules, plus city-specific rules for 1 city in Suffolk County, Massachusetts.
Verified from official government sources
No statewide dark-sky law, but Boston Zoning Code Article 80 design review requires full-cutoff exterior fixtures and a maximum 0.5 foot-candle spill at residential property lines. Chelsea Zoning §34-300 and Revere §17.16 adopt similar downlighting standards for commercial projects. Winthrop has no dark-sky ordinance but enforces the MassDEP nuisance rule for glare.
Light trespass in Suffolk County is addressed through local nuisance codes and zoning. Boston Code §16-12 (public nuisances) and Chelsea, Revere, Winthrop nuisance bylaws allow complaints against lighting that unreasonably illuminates adjoining property. Commercial light spill limits are typically 0.5 foot-candles at residential property lines.
1 cities in Suffolk County have their own outdoor lighting rules. Each link goes to that city's dedicated page with code citations.
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