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.
New Bedford, MA
New Bedford regulates noise through its general ordinance provisions and MassDEP 310 CMR 7.10. Habitual barking or noise that disturbs a neighborhood is decl...
New Bedford, MA
New Bedford declares habitual barking dogs a public nuisance under the city ordinance. The keeping of any dog which by habitual howling, yelping, barking or ...
New Bedford, MA
New Bedford regulates construction noise under its general ordinance provisions. Construction activities that create excessive noise and disturb the neighbor...
New Bedford, MA
New Bedford enforces snow emergency parking bans during winter storms under Chapter 23 of the Code of Ordinances. During a snow ban, parking is allowed on th...
New Bedford, MA
New Bedford restricts heavy traffic and commercial vehicle parking in designated zones under §23-23 of the Code of Ordinances. Commercial vehicles must compl...
New Bedford, MA
New Bedford's zoning ordinance Chapter 9 regulates off-street parking and driveways. Parking in front of public or private driveways is prohibited. Off-stree...
See how New Bedford's light trespass rules stack up against other locations.
Help us keep this page accurate. If you notice an error or outdated information, let us know.