Mount Vernon, NY Outdoor Lighting: Dark Sky Rules (2026)
Key Facts
- Applies in
- MX-1 Commercial Corridor District only
- Max fixture height
- 10 feet above street level
- Mandatory ban
- No light onto or visible from adjacent lots
- Encouraged
- LED and energy-efficient fixtures
- Reviewed by
- Planning Board and Architectural Review Board
Summary
Mount Vernon caps outdoor light fixtures at 10 feet above street level for projects in the MX-1 Commercial Corridor District under City Code Section 267-19.A(8)(d)(5), and flatly bars lighting that projects onto, or fixtures visible from, an adjacent property, while still requiring enough light for pedestrian safety.
Artificial lighting of the grounds shall provide illumination sufficient for the convenience and safety of all residents and passersby. However, such outdoor lighting shall not project light onto, nor shall light sources be visible from, adjacent properties. No outdoor light source shall be more than 10 feet above the street level underneath it.
Full Breakdown
This is the mandatory half of the MX-1 site lighting standard, drafted with 'shall' rather than the 'should' language used in the neighboring shielding clause. ' The height cap functions as the district's closest equivalent to a dark-sky rule, since it keeps pole-mounted and building-mounted fixtures low enough to limit glare and upward light spill along the commercial corridor. It applies to any new structure or facade renovation covering 35% or more of the facade within MX-1, reviewed by the Planning Board at site plan review and by the Architectural Review Board at certificate-of-appropriateness review.
The same subsection encourages current energy-efficient fixtures such as LED technology and requires building light fixtures to be architecturally compatible with the main structure, with pole height 'appropriately scaled to the project,' reinforcing the 10-foot ceiling rather than working around it.
Violations & Fines
Because Section 267-19.A(8) lists these as standards a covered project 'shall abide by,' a lighting plan that exceeds the 10-foot fixture height or projects light onto a neighboring lot is grounds for the Planning Board to deny or condition site plan approval, or for the Architectural Review Board to withhold a certificate of appropriateness, until the fixtures are lowered or shielded to comply.
Frequently Asked Questions
How tall can an outdoor light pole be in Mount Vernon's MX-1 district?
Does the 10-foot cap apply to a purely residential building in MX-1?
Is this a citywide dark-sky ordinance for Mount Vernon?
Sources & Official References
Other rules in Mount Vernon
New York rules heatmap·Compare Mount Vernon to another location·View the New York outdoor lighting overview
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How other cities in Westchester County handle dark sky rules.