Nashua regulates outdoor lighting through Chapter 190 (Land Use Code), Article IX (Lighting), of the City Code. The intent is to reduce problems created by improperly designed and installed outdoor lighting by limiting total area and total allowable illumination of lots within the city. Luminaires rated 1,800 lumens or less (and flood/spot luminaires rated 900 lumens or less) may be used without distribution or mounting-height restrictions, except that any spot/flood directed toward residential buildings or creating glare for motorists must be redirected, reduced, or shielded. Luminaires above those thresholds must not emit more than 3% direct light above a horizontal plane, must be mounted at a height no greater than 3 + (D/3) feet (D = distance to nearest property line) up to a maximum 25 feet, and total light levels at any property line are capped at 0.2 footcandles. A lighting plan is required for subdivision and site plan approval (§ 190-275). New Hampshire has no statewide dark-sky statute.
Nashua's outdoor-lighting standards live in Chapter 190 (Land Use Code), Article IX (Lighting), rather than in a stand-alone dark-sky chapter. The Article applies to all public and private outdoor lighting installed in the City of Nashua, except as carved out for applications within the D-1 or D-3 Downtown Zoning Districts (except as provided in § 190-20B(7)). The Article's stated intent is to reduce the problems created by improperly designed and installed outdoor lighting by limiting total area and total allowable illumination of lots within the city. The thresholds and rules: (1) Any luminaire with a lamp or lamps rated at a total of 1,800 lumens or less, and all flood or spot luminaires with a lamp or lamps rated at 900 lumens or less, may be used without restriction to light distribution or mounting height - except that if any spot or flood luminaire rated 900 lumens or less is aimed, directed, or focused so as to cause direct light from the luminaire to be directed toward residential buildings on adjacent or nearby land, or to create glare perceptible to persons operating motor vehicles on public ways, the luminaire shall be redirected or its light output reduced or shielded. (2) Any luminaire with a lamp or lamps rated at a total of more than 1,800 lumens, and all flood or spot luminaires with a lamp or lamps rated at a total of more than 900 lumens, shall not emit more than 3% direct light above a horizontal plane through the lowest direct-light-emitting part of the luminaire. (3) Such larger luminaires shall be mounted at a height equal to or less than the value 3 + (D/3) feet, where D is the distance in feet to the nearest property boundary, and the maximum height of any luminaire shall not exceed 25 feet. (4) Light levels shall not exceed 0.2 footcandles at any property line. (5) A lighting plan is required for subdivision and site plan approval under § 190-275, including location, type, wattage, mounting height, and photometric data. Nonconforming lighting must be brought into conformance when replaced or moved; temporary nonconforming lighting may be permitted only with conditional use approval. New Hampshire has no statewide dark-sky statute and the IDA-International Dark-Sky Association model ordinance is not state-required, though Nashua's 1,800-lumen / 3%-uplight / 25-foot-max / 0.2-fc-property-line framework reflects dark-sky-informed design principles.
Outdoor-lighting violations are reviewed during site-plan and building-permit approval by the City of Nashua Planning and Zoning Departments and enforced by Nashua Code Enforcement. Non-conforming commercial lighting installed contrary to Chapter 190, Article IX, may be ordered modified at the owner's expense. Single-family residential lighting glare complaints can be filed with Nashua Code Enforcement through the Inspections & Code Enforcement Division. Nashua Planning Department: (603) 589-3090; Code Enforcement / Building Department: (603) 589-3030.
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