Raritan Township adopts ordinance to curb ‘light trespass’ and reduce nighttime glare
RARITAN TOWNSHIP, N.J. (Hunterdon County) — The Raritan Township Committee has adopted a new ordinance aimed at reducing unwanted light from spilling onto neighboring properties, a phenomenon known as “light trespass.”
Approved at the committee’s Oct. 7 public meeting, Ordinance No. 25-33 is designed to improve residents’ quality of life by addressing complaints about excessive or misdirected outdoor lighting.
Light trespass is defined as illumination from a light fixture that crosses a property line and lights an adjacent property. Under the new township law, all residential outdoor lighting fixtures — new and existing — must be directed so that continuous beams of light do not shine onto neighboring properties or public streets.
The ordinance also requires that all outdoor lights be turned off between 11 p.m. and dawn, with exceptions for motion-activated lights that are properly shielded, directed, and programmed to turn off within 10 minutes of activation.
The measure does not apply to seasonally appropriate holiday decorations, provided the lighting is installed and used within reasonable limits.
Township officials said the new law reflects an effort to balance safety and aesthetics while preserving nighttime visibility and protecting residential privacy.
