Paterson, NJ Outdoor Lighting: Light Trespass & Shielding (2026)
Key Facts
- Fixture cutoff angle
- 75 degrees from vertical
- Pole height limit
- 25 ft (35 ft in I-1/I-2)
- Extra shielding
- house-side shield when required
- Core rule
- light source not visible off-site
Summary
Paterson's Land Development Ordinance requires outdoor lighting to be shielded and aimed so it doesn't spill onto adjacent properties, with cutoff fixtures and house-side shields to cut glare toward neighbors.
Lights shall be appropriately placed, shielded and directed so that the lighting, to the extent possible, shall not spill over onto adjacent properties. Lights shall be so arranged and designed so that the direct source of light is not visible off the site. Glare from bright light bulbs shall be eliminated through the use of diffusers or the equivalent.
G. During non-operating hours, lighting that is not necessary for safety and security shall be extinguished.
H. Lighting Fixtures:
1. All lighting fixtures, whether affixed to poles or a building, shall utilize maximum 75 degree cutoff luminaire type reflectors so as to minimize glare or shielded to restrict the maximum apex angle of the cone of illumination to seventy-five (75) degrees from vertical.
2. Where determined to be required by the Board, a house side shield (internal or external) shall be provided to minimize glare and light intrusion onto adjacent properties.
3. All fixtures shall be aesthetically compatible with the lighting standard (poles), contiguous fixtures, and development on the site and surrounding area.
124 City of Paterson, Land Development Ordinance Development Requirements and Design Standards
4. The light lens shall be flush with, or recessed within, the fixture housing and parallel to
Full Breakdown
Article IV's lighting design standards require that lights be appropriately placed, shielded and directed so lighting does not spill over onto adjacent properties, arranged so the light source itself is not visible off-site, with glare from bulbs eliminated using diffusers. Fixtures must use cutoff-type reflectors restricting the light cone to 75 degrees from vertical, and the reviewing board can require a house-side shield to cut glare and light intrusion onto neighboring lots. Freestanding pole lights are capped at 25 feet (35 feet in the I-1/I-2 industrial districts). This is part of Article IV, which the ordinance flags as drafted from the 2006 code and unverified for current accuracy: confirm with the Paterson City Clerk.
Violations & Fines
Lighting plans that let fixtures shine directly toward neighboring lots, or that omit required shielding and cutoff fixtures, can be rejected or modified by the reviewing board at site plan review.
Frequently Asked Questions
Can a business shine floodlights toward the house next door in Paterson?
What if glare from a neighbor's site lighting is still a problem?
Sources & Official References
Other rules in Paterson
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