Stamford, CT Outdoor Lighting: Light Trespass & Shielding (2026)
Key Facts
- Trigger distance
- within 10 feet of residential line
- Fixture class required
- IESNA Type III or IV
- Shielding side
- side closest to property line
- Aiming rule
- downward, away from property lines
Summary
Any Stamford light fixture within 10 feet of a residential property line, residential use, or public right-of-way must be an IESNA Type III or IV fixture shielded on the side facing that line.
Lights Adjacent to Residential Districts. Standards for lights adjacent to Residential Zoning Districts, residential uses, or public rights-of-way: Any Light Fixture located within ten (10) feet of a property line of a residential zoning district, an existing residential use, or within ten (10) feet of a public right-of-way shall be: (1) Classified as an IESNA Type III or Type IV Light Fixture; and (2) Shielded on the side closest to the property line, Residential Zoning District, residential use, or public right-of-way.
Official source re-checked September 7, 2026: no newer edition of the code had been published (publisher’s edition: Code of Ordinances: Supplement 72).
Full Breakdown
Section 155-5(g) of the lighting chapter targets fixtures near homes: any Light Fixture within ten feet of a residential zoning district's property line, an existing residential use, or a public right-of-way must be an IESNA Type III or Type IV fixture and must be shielded on the side closest to that line, use, or right-of-way. The same section separately requires all exterior lighting to be aimed downward and away from adjacent property lines. Enforcement runs through the Zoning Enforcement Officer under the Chapter 97 citation process, with a $100-per-day fine for noncompliance.
Violations & Fines
Fines of $100 per violation and $100 per additional day of noncompliance, cited by the Zoning Enforcement Officer through the Chapter 97 civil citation hearing process.
Frequently Asked Questions
Does my security light need a shield if it's near my neighbor's yard?
Which way can floodlights point in Stamford?
Sources & Official References
Other rules in Stamford
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