Suffolk UDO § 31-604 controls outdoor lighting to cut glare and skyglow. Non-exempt fixtures must use the shielded, filtered types listed in Table 604-1, and the spacing-to-mounting-height ratio cannot exceed 4:1.
Suffolk's Unified Development Ordinance § 31-604 governs outdoor lighting to control devices emitting rays into the night sky that harm astronomical observations and create glare. All non-exempt outdoor lighting fixtures must be limited to the fixture types in Table 604-1 and carry the shielding and filtration that table requires. Fixture placement must minimize glare, with the spacing-to-mounting-height ratio not exceeding 4:1, and support poles must be anodized or coated to reduce glare. Street lights in new major subdivisions must meet a minimum 5,000-lumen standard.
Outdoor lighting that violates § 31-604 blocks site plan or development approval. Suffolk Zoning enforcement can require corrective shielding or fixture replacement; continued noncompliance carries UDO penalties, including misdemeanor charges.
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See how Suffolk's dark sky rules rules stack up against other locations.
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