A 739: Directs the secretary of state to prepare and distribute to cities, towns and villages criterion for a comprehensive outdoor lighting ordinance; updates general lighting restrictions.
The state of New York is implementing a new law to regulate outdoor lighting to reduce glare, energy waste, and sky glow. The law requires cities, towns, and villages to adopt a comprehensive outdoor lighting ordinance, which must comply with state and federal standards. Permanent outdoor fixtures with a lumens output of over 3,000 must be fully shielded to prevent glare and light trespass. Aerial sports fields are allowed uplighting, but only if the lighting is shielded to prevent glare and light trespass. Facade lighting and ornamental roadway lighting must also be shielded to reduce glare and sky glow. Sports lighting must confine 85% of its lumens to within a distance of one pole height beyond the playing field, and the maximum allowable color temperature for outdoor fixtures is 3,000K, excluding public safety, sports fields, and decorative lighting. The law also sets limits on ligh…
| Jan. 07, 2026 | referred to local governments |
| Nov. 21, 2025 | print number 739a |
| Nov. 21, 2025 | amend (t) and recommit to local governments |
| Jan. 08, 2025 | referred to local governments |
STATE OF NEW YORK ________________________________________________________________________ 739 2025-2026 Regular Sessions IN ASSEMBLY (Prefiled) January 8, 2025 ___________ Introduced by M. of A. ROSENTHAL -- read once and referred to the Committee on Local Governments AN ACT to amend the general municipal law, in relation to the prepara- tion and distribution of a model comprehensive outdoor lighting ordi- nance The People of the State of New York, represented in Senate and Assem- bly, do enact as follows: 1 Section 1. The general municipal law is amended by adding a new 2 section 137 to read as follows: 3 § 137. Model comprehensive outdoor lighting ordinance. The secretary 4 of state, in consultation with the New York state energy research and 5 development authority, the commissioner of transportation and the 6 commissioner of general services, shall prepare or cause to be prepared 7 and distributed to cities, towns and villages a model comprehensive 8 outdoor lighting ordinance for the purpose of saving energy, reducing 9 unnecessary glare and reducing unnecessary sky glow. For purposes of 10 this section, the term "glare" shall mean light emitted by a luminaire 11 that causes reduced visibility or momentary blindness by shining direct- 12 ly into the eyes of the viewer; and the term "sky glow" shall mean the 13 illumination of the nighttime sky that results from upward shining 14 light, which is reflected off molecules and particles of dirt and mois- 15 ture in the atmosphere. 16 § 2. This act shall take effect immediately. EXPLANATION--Matter in italics (underscored) is new; matter in brackets [] is old law to be omitted. LBD02268-01-5