Bristol County cities prohibit outdoor lighting that trespasses onto neighboring properties. Typical limit: 0.5 to 1.0 foot-candles at the residential property line. Enforcement is complaint-driven.
Bristol County municipal codes prohibit light trespass — artificial illumination that crosses property lines and affects neighboring parcels. Residential property-line light levels typically cannot exceed 0.5 to 1.0 foot-candles. Security lights must be aimed and shielded to illuminate only the owner's property. Floodlights directed at neighboring homes are prohibited. String lights and decorative lighting must not create glare for neighbors or traffic. Holiday lighting (roughly Thanksgiving through mid-January) typically has temporary exemptions in Fall River, New Bedford, and Taunton. Commercial properties face stricter limits with measurable lumen caps at property boundaries. Enforcement is complaint-driven through code enforcement; warning letters precede fines. Nuisance claims under MGL c. 214 §3 also available.
Light trespass complaint: warning and 30-day correction. Non-compliance: $100 to $300 per violation. Repeated complaints: escalating fines. Commercial: up to $1,000 per day.
Bristol County, MA
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