Lynn, MA Outdoor Lighting: Light Trespass & Shielding (2026)
Key Facts
- Spillover limit
- 1.0 foot-candle onto residential property
- Governing section
- Zoning Ordinance § 6.A.9.b
- Interior lighting range
- 1.0 to 8.0 foot-candles at grade
- Enforcing agency
- Inspectional Services / Building Commissioner
- Penalty
- $300 per violation, per day
- Applies to
- Off-street parking lots, not single/two-family homes
Summary
Lynn's zoning ordinance caps how much light an off-street parking lot can throw onto a neighbor's property. Section 6.A.9 requires lighting to be shielded and arranged so it doesn't glare across the line, and sets a hard limit: no more than 1.0 foot-candle of spillover onto property used for residential purposes. Inspectional Services enforces it.
a. Requirement: off-street parking facilities other than single and two family dwellings which are used at night must be provided with adequate lighting
b. Spillover: lighting shall be arranged and shielded so as to prevent glare from the light sources onto adjacent property. The maximum spillover illumination to adjacent properties use for residential purposes shall be 1.0-foot candle
Official source re-checked September 8, 2026: the cited page had not changed since it was quoted.
Full Breakdown
9 of the City of Lynn Zoning Ordinance adopted December 9, 2025. It applies to off-street parking facilities other than single- and two-family dwellings that are used at night; those lots must carry adequate lighting, but the fixtures have to be arranged and shielded so glare does not spill onto the property next door. 0 foot-candle. 0 foot-candles measured at grade, so a property owner cannot argue that brighter interior lighting justifies more spillover. 0 foot-candle spillover ceiling after a neighbor complaint. Because the cap lives in the zoning ordinance rather than a separate nuisance code, a violation is treated the same as any other zoning violation: the Building Commissioner investigates a written complaint, must respond within 14 days, and can order the owner to correct the condition.
Violations & Fines
A lot that throws more than 1.0 foot-candle onto a neighboring residential property violates Section 6.A.9.b. The Building Commissioner investigates written complaints, must respond in writing within 14 days, and can order shielding, retrofitting, or pole relocation to bring the site into compliance. Under Section 11.B.3, a zoning violation is a misdemeanor punishable by a $300 fine per violation, with each day of continued noncompliance charged as a separate offense, plus costs and legal fees.
Frequently Asked Questions
Does Lynn limit how much light can spill onto my property from a neighboring parking lot?
Which properties does the spillover limit apply to?
What happens if a business ignores the spillover limit after a complaint?
Sources & Official References
Other rules in Lynn
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