Any Restrictions On Security Lights Where You Live?

[mike1003]

No restrictions what so ever. We leave a light on by front door and patio in back 24 hours a day. Plus we have VERY bright motion detector spotlights (blinding bright) front, back and both sides


We are happy and our neighbors are happy (they have same system)


We live in very nice neighborhood, but no one should take chances in today's world!

[Parnassia]

All but one of my houses has been in an HOA, but those HOAs were quite hands off. All but one was outside city limits so the covenants were designed to take the place of a few specific city, borough, or county codes that protected property values: trash/sanitation/septic/water quality, home businesses, pervasive noise, livestock, etc. They didn't restrict exterior lighting per se.

My current house has the typical front stoop light, back door light, garage door lights, as well as a couple of small motion sensor lights aimed directly in front of the entrances beneath them. The original idea for those was to switch on a light if my hands were full. Probably hasn't happened more than twice over the years I've lived here. All these exterior lights are left off 99% of the time. If I need to illuminate my way around the property at night I tend to use a keychain light or flashlight. I've never routinely left any exterior lights on at any of my houses...unless someone was due to arrive at the house after dark. Once they do, the light gets switched off. If I will be away from the house for an extended period I leave an indoor lamp or radio switched on but controlled by a semi-random timer so the place appears to be somewhat occupied. I also leave evidence of a dog outdoors; toy or two, water bowl, etc. I've never had any trouble with human prowlers, no attempted break ins or property theft.

Last time I checked, the pattern of burglaries in the communities I've lived in revolve around unoccupied vacation homes or they occurred during the workday, not at night. "Security" lighting made no difference.

One of my current neighbors routinely leaves her house illuminated like an oil refinery. Whether she's home or not. It is totally obnoxious and violates city ordinances. However, maybe in terms of night sky conservation our houses cancel each other out

[tijlover]

Originally Posted by Parnassia

Last time I checked, the pattern of burglaries in the communities I've lived in revolve around unoccupied vacation homes or they occurred during the workday, not at night. "Security" lighting made no difference.

One of my current neighbors routinely leaves her house illuminated like an oil refinery. Whether she's home or not. It is totally obnoxious and violates city ordinances. However, maybe in terms of night sky conservation our houses cancel each other out

I worked for awhile at the Minneapolis Hennepin County Sherrif's Dept. way back in the early 70's, writing up crime reports, and number of these burglaries were out in the wealthy western suburbs/Excelsior/Lake Minnetonka area, with spacious homes on big lots during the daytime.

So the burglar was probably thinking: To buy a home like this I'll bet both husband and wife are working as well as their neighbors and the kids are at school.

[tijlover]

I sent the Board a website entitled Tucson and Pima County Lighting Guide, it has 17 pages to it, potential fines, potential violations. And I'm sure there's violations in this community.

Tucson went Dark in 1972 and they've been revising this guide over the years and they want to keep Tucson as dark as possible due to the Telescope atop one of the Catalina mountains.

Most people scouting out Tucson for a move are probably easily deterred, with dark street after dark street, thinking it would be too unsafe to live on a street without even one street light. Myself, being sensitive to light, I find it most refreshing, just make sure you carry a flashlight with you at night.