New York City has no ordinance regulating residential holiday light display windows or brightness. Light-trespass complaints are handled through 311 nuisance complaints, and co-op or condo boards may set private building-wide rules.
The NYC Administrative Code contains no provision setting a display window (e.g., November to January) or brightness cap for residential holiday lighting. Three indirect frameworks apply. First, the NYC Department of Environmental Protection enforces noise from holiday displays under the NYC Noise Code (NYC Admin Code Title 24, Chapter 2), but not lighting. Second, public right-of-way obstruction (e.g., lights strung across sidewalks) requires a Department of Transportation permit under NYC Admin Code 19-128. Third, co-op and condo buildings may impose private rules through proprietary leases and house rules under the Business Corporation Law and Real Property Law. Public-housing residents are subject to NYCHA rules limiting fire-load and combustible decorations.
There is no city violation for residential holiday lights. Sidewalk obstructions result in DOT summonses under NYC Admin Code 19-128 starting at $100. Co-op or condo violations are private and enforced through house rules and lease provisions.
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