Lakewood, NJ Outdoor Lighting: Dark Sky Rules (2026)
Key Facts
- Sky glow
- Declared impermissible in parking lot lighting design
- Recommended fixture
- Sharp cutoff luminaires, § 18-804.02B1
- Discouraged fixture
- Spherical globe lights, § 18-804.04F
- Site plan submission
- Full lighting plan with photometrics, § 18-804D
- Enforcing office
- Lakewood Township Zoning Officer and Board
Summary
Lakewood Township's lighting article bans 'sky glow' outright and pushes every commercial and parking-lot lighting plan toward sharp cutoff fixtures under UDO § 18-804.02B. The purpose clause in § 18-804A ties the whole article to avoiding needless light pollution, and site plan applicants must submit photometric data before the Board signs off.
A parking area lighting design that produces "sky glow" is inefficient and an irritant to residents, and will not be permitted. Sharp cutoff type luminaires are recommended as the best approach to lighting parking areas and the fixtures selected shall be of the type that can be provided with sharp cutoff deflectors or refractors. The shielding angle shall be selected to minimize discomforting glare to an observer's eyes from the light source at an angle below the set cutoff. Shielding shall also be employed to prevent spillover of undesirable light to adjoining property.
Full Breakdown
02B1 that sharp cutoff type luminaires are the recommended fixture, with a shielding angle selected to minimize glare and prevent light from spilling onto adjoining property. 04F, which discourages spherical globe fixtures because they have a low coefficient of utilization and contribute to sky glow, favoring bollard down-lights and pole fixtures aimed downward instead. Every applicant for Board approval of a commercial or residential site plan or major subdivision has to submit a complete lighting plan under § 18-804D, including luminaire type, wattage, pole height, foot-candle levels, and beam-spread diagrams, so the shielding standards are checked before construction, not after. 06D1, requiring exterior fixtures to be designed so light spill skyward is minimal.
Violations & Fines
A lighting installation approved without meeting the sharp-cutoff and anti-glare shielding standards, or built to deviate from an approved lighting plan, is a violation of the Unified Development Ordinance. Section 18-1109A sets the penalty at a fine up to $1,000, up to 30 days in jail, or both, with the Township also able to seek an injunction under § 18-1109B to correct a nonconforming installation.
Frequently Asked Questions
Does Lakewood Township require shielded, dark-sky-friendly lighting fixtures?
What has to be submitted before a commercial lighting plan is approved?
Are residential homeowners covered by the shielding requirements too?
Sources & Official References
Other rules in Lakewood
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Dark Sky Rules in Nearby Cities
How other cities in this county handle dark sky rules.