Greece, NY Outdoor Lighting: Dark Sky Rules (2026)
Key Facts
- Light spill
- Barred onto neighbors or ROW
- Fixtures
- Must be shielded from off-site view
- Exempt
- Entrance-mounted incandescent lights
- Exempt
- Low-voltage walkway lights up to 18 in
- Scope
- Townwide, not just site-plan projects
- Penalty
- Up to $10,000 fine, 6 months jail
Summary
Outdoor lighting in Greece can't spill past the property line. Zoning Code § 211-35 bars spotlighting or other high-intensity light from hitting an adjoining lot or public right-of-way without Planning Board sign-off, and every permitted light source must be shielded so it isn't visible from off-site, with narrow exemptions for entrance lights and low, 18-inch walkway fixtures.
§ 211-35. Outdoor lighting. A. Light spill. No exterior spotlighting or other high-intensity lighting on a property shall spill onto an adjacent public highway right-of-way or onto adjoining property unless expressly permitted by the Planning Board. B. Shielding light sources. The source of any outdoor light which is permitted shall be shielded so that it is not visible when viewed off the site. Exempt from this requirement are incandescent lights which are located near an entrance to a principal building and low-voltage lights (as defined in the National Electrical Code) not more than 18 inches above grade that also delineate a walkway or access to a building.
Official source re-checked September 7, 2026: no newer edition of the code had been published (publisher’s edition: rev 4702072; v22 updated 2025-08-21; through 08-21-2025).
Full Breakdown
Section 211-35 sits in the Zoning Code's general development standards, so it applies townwide to any outdoor light fixture, not just to site-plan projects. Subsection A targets light spill: no exterior spotlighting or other high-intensity lighting may spill onto an adjoining property or onto a public highway right-of-way, and the only way around that is express Planning Board permission, typically addressed during the site plan or minor improvement plan review required under § 211-65C and D for commercial and multifamily projects. Subsection B goes further than spill control and requires shielding at the source: any outdoor light source that is otherwise permitted has to be shielded so that the bulb or fixture itself is not visible when viewed from off the site, a fixture-design requirement rather than just a brightness limit.
Two narrow exemptions apply. Incandescent lights mounted near a principal building's entrance don't need shielding, and low-voltage lights, as defined in the National Electrical Code, are also exempt as long as they sit no more than 18 inches above grade and mark a walkway or access route to a building. Everything else, floodlights, wall packs, pole-mounted fixtures, has to be shielded and aimed so neither the light spill nor the bare source crosses the lot line or reaches the street.
Violations & Fines
Lighting complaints go through the same enforcement path as the rest of the Zoning Code. The Building Inspector investigates under § 211-68D and can issue an appearance ticket under § 211-71 for an unshielded or spilling fixture. Section 211-72 then sets the fine schedule: up to $1,000 or six months in jail for a first offense, $1,000 to $5,000 for a second offense within five years, and $2,500 to $10,000 for a third, with each week of a continuing violation a separate offense.
Frequently Asked Questions
Can my neighbor's floodlight legally shine into my yard in Greece?
Do all outdoor lights need to be shielded?
Are pathway or landscape lights exempt from the shielding rule?
Who enforces the outdoor lighting rule?
Sources & Official References
Other rules in Greece
New York rules heatmap·Compare Greece to another location·View the New York outdoor lighting overview
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