Auburn measures light trespass at the property line. Under Zoning Ordinance Section 515, direct or indirect illumination from a light source may not exceed one foot-candle at a property line adjoining residential property, or five foot-candles at a line adjoining non-residential property, and lighting must be directed away from neighbors.
Auburn's light-trespass standard lives in Zoning Ordinance Section 515, which sets a numeric cap measured at the property line. The ordinance states that all lighting for parking areas and for external illumination of buildings or grounds 'shall be directed or located in such a manner that direct or indirect illumination from the source of light shall not exceed one (1) foot candle when measured from any property line adjoining a residential development or five (5) foot candles for any property adjoining a non-residential development.' This is a true light-trespass limit because it is measured at the neighbor's boundary, not at the fixture. To meet it, Section 515 also requires that fixtures in non-enclosed structures be fully recessed and that all lighting be directed and/or shielded so it focuses on the intended use and away from adjacent property and from pedestrian and vehicular areas such as sidewalks and streets. In practice this means commercial parking lots, sign lighting, and building floodlighting next to homes must use shielded, downward-aimed fixtures and keep spill at or below one foot-candle at the residential line. The standard is enforced through site plan review and code enforcement. Auburn's separate sign provisions (Article VI) also prohibit signs of such intensity or brilliance as to cause glare or impair the vision of drivers, reinforcing the anti-trespass intent.
Illumination that exceeds one foot-candle at an adjoining residential property line (or five foot-candles at a non-residential line), or unshielded fixtures that spill light onto neighbors or streets, violate Section 515 and can require corrective shielding, re-aiming, or fixture changes under code enforcement.
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See how Auburn's light trespass rules stack up against other locations.
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