Nashua, NH Outdoor Lighting: Light Trespass & Shielding (2026)
Key Facts
- Property-line limit
- 0.2 footcandles maximum
- Governing section
- § 190-89, Land Use Code
- Max mounting height
- 25 feet, height formula applies
- Exempt districts
- D-1 and D-3 Downtown
- Waiver authority
- Planning Board under § 190-148
Summary
Nashua's zoning code caps light spilling onto neighboring property at 0.2 footcandles at any property line, with taller or brighter fixtures required to step back from boundaries and file a lighting plan for review.
Light levels shall not exceed 0.2 footcandles at any property line. This subsection does not apply if any property line that separates two or more lots or parcels under common ownership or similar adjacent uses, including:
(1) Multiple and single lots held in common ownership and separate ownership that are subject to a common site plan approval; and
(2) Contiguous parcels, with or without an approved site plan (common to both or separate), that share common access or parking.
B. Any luminaire with a lamp or lamps rated at a total of more than 1800 lumens, and all flood or spot luminaires with a lamp or lamps rated at a total of more than 900 lumens, shall not emit more than 3% direct light above a horizontal plane through the lowest direct-light-emitting part of the luminaire.
C. Any luminaire with a lamp or lamps rated at a total of more than 1800 lumens, and all flood or spot luminaires with a lamp or lamps rated at a total of more than 900 lumens, shall be mounted at a height equal to or less than the value 3 + (D/3), where D is the distance in feet to the nearest property boundary. The maximum height of the luminaire shall not exceed 25 feet.
D. Any temporary outdoor lighting that conforms to the requirements of this section of this section is permitted.
E. The applicant shall submit a lighting plan as required by § 190-275.
Official source re-checked September 7, 2026: no newer edition of the code had been published (publisher’s edition: rev 4805762; v29 updated 2026-02-10; through 02-10-2026).
Full Breakdown
Section 190-89 of Nashua's Land Use Code limits light trespass by capping illumination at 0.2 footcandles measured at any property line, with an exception where the affected boundary separates commonly owned or jointly managed parcels. Fixtures brighter than 1,800 lumens (or 900 lumens for floods and spots) can't cast more than 3% of their light above horizontal and must be mounted no higher than 3 feet plus one-third of the distance to the nearest property line, capped at 25 feet. Applicants must submit a lighting plan under § 190-275, and the Planning Board can grant waivers under § 190-148. The rule doesn't apply in the D-1 or D-3 Downtown Districts.
Violations & Fines
Violating Nashua's lighting standards is punishable under the Code's general penalty, § 1-12: a fine up to $1,000, with each day of continued violation counted as a separate offense.
Frequently Asked Questions
Does Nashua limit how much outdoor light can spill onto my property?
Can I get an exception to Nashua's lighting rules?
Sources & Official References
Other rules in Nashua
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