Bristol, PA Outdoor Lighting: Dark Sky Rules (2026)

Outdoor lighting regulation in Bucks County is a municipal zoning matter — Pennsylvania has no statewide dark-sky statute. Several Bucks municipalities, particularly those with rural character and significant protected lands, have adopted robust dark-sky or outdoor lighting ordinances aligned with International Dark-Sky Association (IDA) recommendations: Solebury Township, Tinicum Township, Nockamixon Township, Upper Makefield Township, Buckingham Township, and portions of New Hope have adopted ordinances requiring fully shielded (full-cutoff) fixtures that prevent light from escaping above a horizontal plane. Typical provisions: maximum output (typically 8,000 lumens for residential fixtures, scaled for commercial); color temperature cap at 3000K (some restrict to 2700K) to reduce blue light; automatic shutoff for commercial lighting at 10-11 PM or via photocells/timers; prohibition of uplighting of buildings and trees in sensitive areas; illuminance limits at property lines (typically 0.1-0.5 footcandles); photometric plan submission for subdivisions and commercial projects. Properties adjacent to state parks (Nockamixon, Tyler, Neshaminy, Ralph Stover), preserves (Bowman's Hill Wildflower Preserve, Fort Washington State Park periphery), and state forests face enhanced scrutiny. Central and lower Bucks municipalities (Bensalem, Bristol, Middletown, Falls) with denser urban/suburban character have less restrictive lighting but still prohibit light trespass onto neighboring residential properties under nuisance provisions. Parking lot lighting has specific pole height (often 20-25 ft max) and cutoff requirements. LED streetlight conversions by PECO and municipalities have raised dark-sky concerns and many Bucks municipalities have negotiated warm-white (2700-3000K) fixtures and proper shielding in conversions. New Hope and Doylestown historic districts have additional lighting standards for period-appropriate fixtures. Security lighting must still comply with shielding requirements; motion-activation recommended to reduce continuous glare.