Showing ordinances that apply to Southold, NY
Southold is an unincorporated community (population 6,040) in Suffolk County, New York. Because Southold is not an incorporated city, it does not have its own municipal code. Instead, Suffolk County ordinances apply directly to properties here. The light trespass rules below are the ones that govern your area.
Suffolk County light trespass rules require that no light from a property exceed 0.1 footcandle at adjacent residential property lines. East End towns enforce civil and criminal remedies for repeat violations.
Town of Southampton 330-206 caps light trespass at 0.1 footcandle (fc) at residential boundaries and 0.5 fc at commercial boundaries, measured with fixtures at full output. Town of East Hampton imposes identical 0.1 fc limits. Brookhaven 81-6 requires adequate shielding to prevent glare or spillover. Measurement is taken 5 feet above grade at the property line with a calibrated light meter. Aggrieved neighbors may file complaints with town code enforcement, and repeat violations may support common-law nuisance claims in NY Supreme Court under Copart Industries v. Consolidated Edison principles.
Light trespass fines $250-$1,000 per violation per day until abated. Civil nuisance suits may result in injunctive relief and damages.
See how Southold'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 If you notice an error or outdated information, let us know.