Monmouth County light trespass is regulated by each of the 53 municipalities under N.J.S.A. 40:55D (Municipal Land Use Law) with no county-wide ordinance. Shore towns (Asbury Park, Long Branch, Belmar, Spring Lake, Sea Bright) typically cap illumination at 0.3 to 0.5 foot-candles at residential property lines. Beachfront lighting must also comply with NJDEP coastal regulations protecting sea turtle nesting habitat on certain southern shore beaches.
Monmouth County has no unified light trespass ordinance; each of the 53 municipalities sets standards through zoning codes adopted under N.J.S.A. 40:55D. Typical shore municipality limits: Long Branch Code §345-23 caps illumination at 0.5 foot-candles at residential property lines with full-cutoff fixture requirements in oceanfront zones; Asbury Park Code §520-18 requires shielded fixtures and 0.3 fc at residential boundaries; Belmar Code §16-18.7 limits commercial spillover to 0.5 fc; Red Bank Code §490-6.7 applies 0.3 fc residential line standard with 3,000K color temperature cap. Inland towns (Freehold, Marlboro, Manalapan, Howell) follow similar structures. Residential security lights must be aimed and shielded to illuminate only the owner's property. NJ common-law private nuisance (Sans v. Ramsey Golf & Country Club, NJ Supreme Court 1959) provides civil remedy against actionable glare. Floodlights aimed at neighboring homes are prohibited. Boardwalk and oceanfront commercial lighting in Asbury Park, Long Branch Pier Village, and Belmar faces additional Atlantic Ocean glare restrictions. Holiday displays typically have 30 to 60 day exemptions. Sandy Hook (Gateway National Recreation Area) and Sandy Hook Lighthouse zones face federal dark-sky restrictions overlapping with local rules. Enforcement is complaint-driven through municipal code officers; chronic issues may require formal nuisance litigation in Monmouth County Superior Court.
Light trespass complaint: warning and 30-day correction period. Non-compliance: fines $100 to $500 per violation in most Monmouth towns. Commercial violations in Asbury Park/Long Branch oceanfront districts: up to $2,000 per day. Civil nuisance suits under Sans v. Ramsey precedent: injunctive relief plus damages possible.
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