Medford, MA Outdoor Lighting: Dark Sky Rules (2026)
Key Facts
- Wall-mounted fixture cap
- 15 feet above grade
- Pole-mounted fixture cap
- 20 feet above grade
- Lights off
- half hour after closing
- Covers
- nonresidential/6+ unit projects only
- Checked at
- occupancy permit stage
Summary
Medford's zoning performance standards require every outdoor light fixture on a covered nonresidential or six-or-more-unit residential project to be shielded so it does not spill past the property. Section 94-6.4.4 directs lighting to cut light pollution and preserve the night sky, and it applies whenever a Medford, Massachusetts development needs a special permit or site plan review.
The proposed development shall not produce lighting so as to unreasonably interfere with the use and enjoyment of property within the city. Lighting practices and systems shall (i) reduce light pollution, light trespass and glare in order to preserve and enhance the natural, scenic, and aesthetic qualities of the city; (ii) conserve energy and decrease lighting cost without decreasing night time safety, security, and productivity; and (iii) preserve the night sky as a natural resource to enhance nighttime enjoyment of property within the city. ... 1.Shielding. All outdoor light fixtures shall be shielded so as to meet the goals of this section.
Full Breakdown
Under Sec. 94-6.4.4 of the Revised Ordinances, the Community Development Board or the zoning board of appeals sitting as special permit granting authority (SPGA) reviews outdoor lighting for any nonresidential use or any multiple-dwelling project of six or more units. Item 1 requires all outdoor fixtures to be shielded, and companion items cap wall-mounted luminaires at 15 feet above grade and pole-mounted fixtures at 20 feet (item 9), require parking-area lighting to be reduced or eliminated outside business hours, and favor low-reflectance surfacing such as blacktop (item 4).
Exterior lighting, including sign lighting, must be extinguished a half hour after the business closes and may resume a half hour before the first employee arrives, though motion-activated security lighting is encouraged (item 10). Laser shows or searchlights for advertising are banned outright unless the SPGA authorizes one for up to fourteen days (item 5). The Board can waive or reduce any of these standards under Sec. 94-6.4.12 if the waiver will not undermine the purpose of the performance standards, and compliance is checked before an occupancy permit issues under Sec. 94-6.4.13, which also allows a post-issuance monitoring program.
Violations & Fines
There is no separate dollar fine printed for the lighting section itself; instead the Community Development Board withholds or conditions the occupancy permit under Sec. 94-6.4.13 until a development demonstrates shielding compliance, and it can impose a monitoring program after the permit issues. Because these standards attach to a special permit or site plan approval, ongoing noncompliance also exposes the project's underlying permit to enforcement action by the board that granted it.
Frequently Asked Questions
Does the shielding rule apply to a homeowner's porch light?
Can a Medford business leave its parking lot lit all night?
Are advertising searchlights or laser shows legal in Medford?
Sources & Official References
Other rules in Medford
Compare Medford to another location·View the Massachusetts outdoor lighting overview
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