City of Northampton Lighting Policies
Outdoor Lighting Code
City Council Resolution in support of state-wide Dark Sky Bills
NESC endorsement of 5 Principles
Northampton's lighting code was approved in 2006 and applies to all new private development projects. It was fairly standard for its time, but now it's overdue to be updated, especially since LEDs, which have changed outdoor lighting so dramatically, are not even mentioned in the code. Enforcement of the code is also uneven at best -- for example, the light shown above does not comply, but was approved by the city.
NESC endorsement of 5 Principles
City Council Resolution in support of state-wide Dark Sky Bills
NESC endorsement of 5 Principles
In January 2021, the Northampton Energy and Sustainability Commission (NESC) unanimously endorsed the IDA/IES Five Principles for Responsible Outdoor Lighting. The 5 Principles also appear in the city's Climate Resilience and Regeneration Plan (p. 39).
City Council Resolution in support of state-wide Dark Sky Bills
City Council Resolution in support of state-wide Dark Sky Bills
City Council Resolution in support of state-wide Dark Sky Bills
On Sept. 3, 2020, the Northampton City Council unanimously endorsed a resolution in support of the twin statewide "Dark Sky Bills" (current versions: S.2147 and H.3306). Copies of the resolution were sent to our representatives in the state legislature, the relevant committee chairs, and Governor Baker.