Showing ordinances that apply to Port Washington, NY
Port Washington is an unincorporated community (population 16,753) in Nassau County, New York. Because Port Washington is not an incorporated city, it does not have its own municipal code. Instead, Nassau County ordinances apply directly to properties here. The light trespass rules below are the ones that govern your area.
Nassau County light trespass addressed through local zoning codes and common law nuisance. Villages with lighting codes typically cap property-line illuminance at 0.1-0.5 footcandles. No statewide light trespass statute. Private nuisance claims available in NY courts.
Most Nassau villages with outdoor lighting codes impose property-line illuminance limits: residential zones 0.1 fc, commercial abutting residential 0.5 fc. Nonconforming pre-existing lighting often grandfathered but must comply upon replacement. Common requirements: fixtures aimed below 90 degrees, maximum mounting heights (typically 12-20 ft residential, 20-30 ft commercial), shielding required when within 50 ft of residential lot line. Flood lights with motion sensors generally allowed. NY common law private nuisance available where lighting substantially interferes with reasonable use and enjoyment. Courts balance harm vs. utility. Injunctive relief possible. Sleep disturbance from neighbor lights can support nuisance actions. Village code enforcement responds faster than civil suits.
Code violations: $100-$500 first notice, $250-$2,500 for continued violations. Civil nuisance damages: varies, typically injunction plus attorney fees at court discretion.
See how Port Washington's light trespass rules stack up against other locations.
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