Somerville zoning requires full cutoff fixtures and limits outdoor lighting to 3000K color temperature in most districts. Uplighting is generally prohibited.
The Somerville Zoning Ordinance Outdoor Lighting section requires that all new exterior luminaires be full cutoff (no light above the horizontal plane), shielded to prevent glare and light trespass, and use warm color temperatures generally capped at 3000K correlated color temperature to protect dark-sky conditions and circadian health. Parking lot lighting must be zoned to turn off or dim after business hours, and architectural uplighting of facades is generally prohibited except for designated landmark buildings with planning approval. Residential porch and security lights must be aimed downward and shielded from neighboring windows. Commercial properties submit photometric plans at site plan review showing compliance with maximum illuminance at the property line (typically 0.5 foot-candles). The City has transitioned most streetlights to 3000K LED to reduce skyglow.
Contact your local code enforcement office for specific penalty information.
Somerville, MA
Somerville restricts amplified music through its noise ordinance and entertainment licensing, with plainly-audible standards at property lines and stricter c...
Somerville, MA
Somerville limits construction noise to daytime and early-evening weekday hours with shorter Saturday windows and a full Sunday and holiday prohibition, refl...
Somerville, MA
Overnight street parking in Somerville requires a resident permit citywide. Snow emergencies trigger odd-even or posted-side bans.
Somerville, MA
Commercial vehicles over 2.5 tons cannot park overnight on Somerville residential streets. Loading zones are time-limited and signed by block.
Somerville, MA
Most Somerville streets are resident-permit zones. Non-residents are limited to 2 hours on posted blocks from 8 AM to 8 PM daily including weekends.
Somerville, MA
Somerville requires a building permit for most fence installations, with historic districts adding a Historic Preservation Commission review step for visible...
Side-by-side rule comparisons with other cities in Middlesex County.
See how other cities in Middlesex County handle dark sky rules.
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