The New York City Council - File #: Int 0804-2026

• File #: Int 0804-2026
• Version: A
• Name: The maximum allowable illuminance of residential outdoor lighting fixtures.
• Type: Introduction
• Status: Laid Over in Committee
• Committee: Committee on Environmental Protection and Waterfronts
• On agenda: 3/26/2026
• Title: A Local Law to amend the administrative code of the city of New York, in relation to the maximum allowable illuminance of residential outdoor lighting fixtures
• Sponsors: Phil Wong , Farah N. Louis, Harvey D. Epstein, Gale A. Brewer, Chris Banks
• Council Member Sponsors: 5
• Summary: This bill would establish a maximum allowable illuminance of 1 footcandle (11 lux) for certain residential outdoor lighting fixtures. The illuminance limit would apply only to 1- and 2-family homes in low-density residential districts. Outdoor lighting fixtures that are government-operated, used to illuminate a parking lot or sidewalk shed, used for construction safety, part of lawful signs, or part of temporary ornamental displays would be exempt. The Department of Buildings would issue a civil penalty to violators, with the ability to reduce such penalty to $0 if the violator takes steps to prevent the light from shining onto neighboring properties by shielding, relocating, or removing the outdoor lighting fixture.

Date	Ver.	Prime Sponsor	Action By	Action	Result
4/6/2026	*	Phil Wong	Committee on Environmental Protection and Waterfronts	Hearing Held by Committee
4/6/2026	*	Phil Wong	Committee on Environmental Protection and Waterfronts	Laid Over by Committee
3/26/2026	*	Phil Wong	City Council	Referred to Comm by Council
3/26/2026	*	Phil Wong	City Council	Introduced by Council

Proposed Int. No. 804-A

By Council Members Wong, Louis, Epstein, Brewer and Banks

A Local Law to amend the administrative code of the city of New York, in relation to the maximum allowable illuminance of residential outdoor lighting fixtures

Be it enacted by the Council as follows:

Section 1. Chapter 5 of title 28 of the administrative code of the city of New York is amended by adding a new article 508 to read as follows:

ARTICLE 508

OUTDOOR LIGHTING

§ 28-508.1 Definitions. For purposes of this article, the following terms have the following meanings:

FENESTRATION. A vertical window (fixed or moveable) that is located in a room that can be legally occupied.

FOOTCANDLE. A unit of illuminance equal to 1 lumen per square foot.

LUX. A unit of illuminance equal to 1 lumen per square meter.

OUTDOOR LIGHTING FIXTURE. A lamp post, flood light, or other device capable of illumination that is affixed to the exterior of a building or located outside of a building.

§ 28-508.2 Maximum allowable illuminance of residential outdoor lighting fixtures. Except as otherwise required by the zoning resolution of the city of New York or resolution of the landmarks preservation commission, no outdoor lighting fixture on the premises of a 1- or 2-family dwelling located in an R-1, R-2, R-3, R-4, or R-5 district with no commercial overlay shall be permitted to create more than 1 footcandle (11 lux) of illuminance. Such illuminance shall be measured at the exterior of any other 1- or 2-family dwelling located in an R-1, R-2, R-3, R-4, or R-5 district with no commercial overlay, from the fenestration located most directly in the path of illuminance of the outdoor lighting fixture that is the subject of a complaint received by the department relating to a violation of this section.

Exception: The requirements of this section shall not apply to any outdoor lighting fixture that is:

1.                     Operated by a local, state, or federal agency;

2.                     Operated for the illumination of a parking lot or sidewalk shed;

3.                     Used to maintain a safe physical environment due to ongoing construction activity;

4.                     Part of a lawful illuminated sign; or

5.                     Part of a temporary ornamental display.

§ 28-508.3 Civil penalties. A violation of section 28-508.2 shall be classified as a lesser violation.

§ 28-508.4 Reduction of civil penalties. The penalty imposed for a violation of section 28-508.2 may be reduced to $0, provided that, within the timeframe set forth in department rule, each outdoor lighting fixture associated with such violation is:

1.                     Equipped with weather-resistant and vandal-resistant shielding that prevents light trespass into any fenestration of the property from which the illuminance was measured; or

2.                     For an outdoor lighting fixture that is affixed to the exterior of the building, removed or relocated to a location where it cannot exceed the illuminance limit set forth in section 28-508.2.

§ 2. This local law takes effect 270 days after it becomes law.

Session 14

SNT

Int. No. 753-2024

LS #2433/22832

7/8/2026 9:22 PM

Session 13

LS #2433

1/12/2024