Pawtucket, RI Outdoor Lighting: Light Trespass & Shielding (2026)
Key Facts
- Applies to
- All property citywide
- Standard
- No light directed onto adjacent residential parcels
- Cure period
- 20 days after written notice
- Fines
- $50 / $100 / $250 (1st/2nd/3rd+)
- Enforced by
- Police Dept. and Zoning Dept.
- Adopted
- 12-21-2017, Ch. No. 3149
Summary
Pawtucket's Chapter 200, Exterior Lighting, applies to every property in the city and requires all exterior fixtures, public or private, to be arranged so light does not fall on an adjacent street or residential parcel. Violators get a written notice and 20 days to fix the problem before escalating fines start.
Any exterior lighting fixture used to illuminate any building, structure, improvement, parking area, or parcel of land shall be so arranged as not to direct light onto any adjacent street or parcel used for residential purposes. ... No exterior lighting fixture shall be used unless reflectors and/or lenses are fitted to concentrate illumination upon the desired area and shield adjacent streets or parcels used for residential purposes from direct glare as to minimize impact. ... Exterior lighting used to illuminate outdoor activity, driveway, or parking areas shall be so arranged and shaded as to reflect away from adjacent streets or parcels used for residential purposes.
Full Breakdown
Adopted December 21, 2017 by Ch. No. 3149, Chapter 200 applies citywide: § 200-1 states its provisions cover all property within the City of Pawtucket and that all public and private exterior lighting installed in the city must conform to the chapter. Its stated purpose under § 200-2 is protecting health, safety and welfare from exterior artificial light that adversely affects residential properties. The operative standard, § 200-3, has three prongs: fixtures illuminating a building, structure, improvement, parking area or parcel must be arranged so they do not direct light onto an adjacent street or residential parcel; fixtures must carry reflectors or lenses that concentrate light on the intended area and shield adjacent residential parcels from direct glare; and lighting for outdoor activity, driveways or parking must be arranged and shaded to reflect away from adjacent residential parcels.
Temporary lighting for utility work, emergency services or hazard warning is exempt under § 200-3D. 20G, which govern only that mill-conversion district near the commuter rail station.
Violations & Fines
Enforcement runs through both the Pawtucket Police Department and the Zoning Department under § 200-4, which requires written notice of noncompliance to the property owner of record. Under § 200-5 the owner then has 20 days to correct the violation; failing to do so triggers a $50 fine, a second violation draws $100, and a third or subsequent violation draws $250.
Frequently Asked Questions
Does Pawtucket's light-trespass rule cover my whole property or just downtown?
What can I do if a neighbor's floodlight shines into my yard?
Are any lights exempt from the trespass rule?
Sources & Official References
Other rules in Pawtucket
Compare Pawtucket to another location·View the Rhode Island outdoor lighting overview
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Light Trespass & Shielding in Nearby Cities
How other cities in this county handle light trespass & shielding.