Providence, RI Outdoor Lighting: Dark Sky Rules (2026)
Key Facts
- Max lot-line illumination
- 1 footcandle
- Required cutoff angle
- 75 degrees or less
- Max luminaire height
- 25 feet
- Recreational field lights
- 60 ft (90 ft university)
- Governing section
- Zoning Ordinance § 1301
Summary
Providence requires non-exempt outdoor light fixtures to use cut-off luminaires shielded to a 75-degree angle, capped at 25 feet, with illumination capped at one footcandle at property lines.
All luminaires shall be designed as cut off luminaires. Cut off luminaires are those with a cut off angle of 75 degrees or less. A cut off luminaire shall be designed to completely shield the light source from an observer three and one-half feet above the ground at any point along an abutting lot line. The maximum allowable light level at any lot line is one footcandle. No glare onto adjacent properties is permitted. Luminaires with no cut off are prohibited.
Full Breakdown
Under Article 13 of the Providence Zoning Ordinance, non-residential and multi-family projects must submit a lighting plan and use cut-off luminaires with a cutoff angle of 75 degrees or less, shielding the light source from view at any point along an abutting lot line. Freestanding or building-mounted fixtures cap out at 25 feet, and illumination at any lot line cannot exceed one footcandle or produce glare onto neighboring properties. Unshielded, no-cutoff luminaires and flickering or flashing lights are banned outright. Public roadway lighting, emergency lighting, and outdoor recreational facilities like ball fields are exempt, though ball fields are capped at 60 feet.
Violations & Fines
Non-compliant lighting plans are rejected by the building inspector before permits issue; unshielded or over-height fixtures and lot-line light levels above one footcandle must be corrected before final approval.
Frequently Asked Questions
Do single-family homes need a lighting plan?
Are floodlights allowed on new commercial buildings?
Sources & Official References
Other rules in Providence
Compare Providence to another location·View the Rhode Island outdoor lighting overview
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Dark Sky Rules in Nearby Cities
How other cities in this county handle dark sky rules.