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Beyond using common sense? I doubt it.
When the houses are so close there probably shouldn't be ANY individual lights.
I'm sure, with the HOA communities, the security lights are set back from the sidewalk a certain distance and they're not in your face.
Our mobile home park has narrow streets, and the front of the houses are less than 6 feet from the road, as well as the car port awnings. So when you attach one at the end, and it goes off, it can be very startling. That's my complaint, the lights should be set back further.
In some of the SFH's on the surrounding residential areas, the houses are set back from the sidewalk/road by 20-30 feet, so if you attach one to one of those houses, it's not startling when you walk by.
Thanks for the tip on cardboard to deflect security lights. I'm sure every burglar is aware of that.
I had a security light on my house; one day we discovered a wallet eviscerated on the ground in front of it. It had been stolen from a neighbor's car, and the thief crouched behind our 2' tall rosemary bush to pull the cash and credit cards.
Another neighbor's lights kept going on; he discovered that geckos had learned to crawl across the sensor to trigger the light and attract bugs.
The neighborhood may not have specific restrictions on security lighting per se, but it may impose restrictions on residential exterior lighting and defines nuisances. A malfunctioning/hyperactive, overpowered, badly aimed or unshielded security floodlight might meet that definition. I know our city has fairly specific ordinances regarding residential exterior lighting. Doesn't guarantee everyone abides by them, but it does provide a framework within which residents can file complaints and the city can impose fines.
No restrictions but the city did change the streetlights from all sky sodium to shielded LEDs a few years ago. That made a huge difference in sky glow.
I don't mind a few security lights so long as they are near a house. What I don't like are neighbors who turn on every outside light at night. You get light streaming into your windows and can't enjoy being outside at night because of all the glare in your eyes.
Either way I don't think they do much to stop burglaries since most of those happen during broad daylight when folks are at work.
I can see that being annoying in a mobile home community. If its like most I've seen there isn't tons of setback from road/neighbors. It isn't an invasion of privacy, as you don't have a reasonable expectation of privacy on a public street. IMO the compromise would be to ask that the sensors and light be angled downwards to minimize tripping it from pedestrian traffic.
I'm curious if anyone living in a townhouse has any input? Similar setback, also nearly universal HOAs.
Since you are near telescopes, you might be in a designated “dark sky” area.
You might look into this, as there are light limiting regulations in these areas.
Question is….
Do you want to be that person that brings this up…
Since you are near telescopes, you might be in a designated “dark sky” area.
You might look into this, as there are light limiting regulations in these areas.
Question is….
Do you want to be that person that brings this up…
Yes, yes, yes! I'm currently writing a letter to the Board, complaining of the security lights at the edge of mobile homes that only sit 5 feet from the roadway with attached security lights. Set them back farther, for God's sakes!
I was just talking to a former Board member about this today and she hates them as much as I do and she won't walk at night anymore due to the security lights.
Location: East of Seattle since 1992, 615' Elevation, Zone 8b - originally from SF Bay Area
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We have no HOA, and everyone has not only security lights but several cameras (we have two). This is in a very low crime city, where mail theft and porch pirates are the most common crimes. The lights are not a problem since most lots are 12,000 sf, with lots of big trees in between. From our house no lights from other houses are visible, and the only street light is on the side of the garage and bonus room over the garage where no one would sleep. Our normal 4 decorative lights on the front of the house and porch are on all night, but the floodlight is motion activated. It illuminates the front yard and driveway, but the house across the street has no windows on their wall facing it.
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