Protecting our dark sky starts with YOU!
The first, and most important way to prevent light pollution is to update your lighting.
The guidelines (below) reflect requirements of multiple town codes, recommendations from experts, and extensive review of the International Dark Sky Association’s lighting recommendations and scientific studies.
Continue below to see the North Fork Dark Sky Coalition’s lighting recommendations or visit Southold Town Lighting Code to see the lighting requirements in the Town of Southold.
Best Practices:
Guidelines for exterior lighting plans.
Only install artificial lighting where it is ABSOLUTELY necessary for safety! Lighting that is installed must meet the standards that follow:
All exterior lighting fixtures must be zero uplight (fully shielded) fixtures with amber light sources (2200 Kelvin LED or NBA/Narrow Band Amber LED)
Do not uplight trees, building walls, fences, and foliage (note: these actions are prohibited as per Southold Town Code 172)
Business sign lighting fixtures should be eliminated if your business is open only during daylight hours. If your business is open at night, business sign lights must be mounted on top of the sign and face downward, illuminating only the sign.
All exterior lights must be on motion detectors (a proven crime deterrent). All nonessential exterior lighting (including parking lot lights) shall be turned off within a half hour after the close of business (required by Southold Town Code 172) or once you go to sleep.
Note: exterior motion detector lights can be calibrated so that they aren’t a hair trigger nuisance. You can do this by adjusting the “range” dial and shortening the motion detector’s detection zone.
Glare shields must be installed on all motion detector security lights, protecting adjacent properties from glare and light trespass.
Note: the maximum illuminance at the property line of a parcel that adjoins a residential parcel or public right of way must not exceed 0.05 footcandle (required by Southold Town Code 172), or simply if your lights are lighting up your neighbors property they are too bright.
All interior lights are shut off when the building is unoccupied, with the exception of motion sensor lighting or lights on preset timers. Lighting on preset timers should be turned off between the hours of 11 P.M. and 5 A.M.
At flagpoles, upward facing floodlights have been removed and replaced with a flagpole downlight (amber light) or the daily tradition of raising and lowering the American flag has been adopted.
Note: for a flagpole downlight, check out the Stargazer LED Flagpole Downlight (amber light) from Eagle Mountain.
Holiday lights are only used between Thanksgiving and January 15th and must be turned off by 12:59am (required by Southold Town Code 172)