Southampton Village, NY Outdoor Lighting: Dark Sky Rules (2026)

Section 116-13.1 of the Village of Southampton Code, added 9-10-2020 by L.L. No. 8-2020, is the Village's outdoor lighting law. Its stated purposes include protecting and reclaiming the ability to view the night sky and preserving the desired rural character of the Village. The standards apply to all exterior light fixtures installed, replaced, or repaired after the effective date of the section.

Shielding. Under subsection E(2), all exterior lighting uses fully shielded fixtures, determined by a photometry test or certified by the manufacturer, with the light source directed downward and the lowest light-emitting part of the fixture level with the horizontal plane. The definition of fully shielded or zero uplight requires that all light emitted is projected in a fixed direction below the horizontal. For nonresidential property, area lights shall be fully shielded or zero uplight, and wall packs and floodlights that are not fully shielded are not permitted.

Color and level. Subsection G(3), in the standards for nonresidential lighting, bars any light source above 3,000 Kelvin, and streetlights shall be fully shielded and lamped no higher than 3,000 Kelvin. Light on any lit surface cannot exceed five footcandles. Nonresidential fixtures also need middle-of-the-night shutoffs when the need for such lighting has been met.

Residential exceptions. Unshielded residential fixtures are allowed within five feet of a doorway at 900 lumens per fixture, equal to one 60-watt incandescent light. Residential floodlights UL rated at no more than 60 watts aggregate are permitted if angled downward and free of glare and light trespass. Residential sensor-activated fixtures must go off within five minutes after activation has ceased.

Height and approvals. No fixture can be taller than 20 feet from the ground to its tallest point. Any change or alteration of nonresidential exterior lighting must be approved by the Board of Architectural Review and Historic Preservation and verified after installation by the Code Enforcement Officer. Neon lights, searchlights, pulse and laser lights are prohibited, and so is lighting of private sporting courts or playing fields.