Massachusetts has no statewide dark-sky law, so night-sky protection in Essex County comes from town outdoor-lighting bylaws. Rowley, Rockport, and other communities require shielded, downward-facing fixtures.
Dark-sky rules in Essex County live in individual zoning bylaws, not state code. Rowley's Section 8.6 and Rockport's lighting bylaw require full-cutoff, fully shielded fixtures that cast light down, not up or sideways. New commercial and subdivision lighting must limit lumen output, cap pole height, and avoid uplight that washes out the night sky. Existing fixtures are grandfathered until replaced. Enforcement runs through the planning board at site-plan review.
Installing unshielded or over-bright lighting draws a site-plan rejection and an order to reaim, shield, or replace fixtures before an occupancy permit issues.
Other ordinances people look up for this city. Green dot = verified primary-source excerpt.
Swampscott, MA
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Essex County, MA
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See how Swampscott's dark sky rules rules stack up against other locations.
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