Jackson, NJ Outdoor Lighting: Light Trespass & Shielding (2026)

Section 244-160 sets performance standards that every use, building, and process in Jackson Township must satisfy as a condition of approval and continued operation, and its Subsection L covers lighting and illumination specifically. The first rule is numeric: artificial lighting on a property cannot exceed 0.5 footcandle measured beyond any property line, so the limit is measured at the boundary rather than at the fixture. The second rule targets directional lighting: spotlights or other concentrated beams must be aimed so the beam itself never extends past the property line.

The third rule covers sign and building-face lighting specifically, prohibiting beams that extend past the vertical plane of the sign or building face being lit and barring any arrangement that reflects light onto an adjoining property, a public street, or a vehicular circulation area. These performance standards sit alongside, and independent of, zone-specific lighting rules that also exist in the Township's multifamily districts, which separately require shielded fixtures aimed away from adjoining properties and a minimum 0.5 horizontal footcandle on interior roads and walkways. Because § 244-160 compliance is a condition of the certificate of occupancy and continuing operation, the municipal agency can require lighting tests, photometric reports, or specific fixture types at the applicant's expense before approving or continuing a use that produces excessive glare or trespass.