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Beach Haven council agrees to study year-round decorative LED lighting after residents complain
Summary
Councilwoman Veil Millard asked the council to explore limits on year-round, multicolor and rooftop-deck LED holiday-style lighting; the council asked Millard to research ordinances used in other towns and return with a possible draft.
At the Jan. 29 meeting, Councilwoman Veil Millard raised concerns about a growing trend of year-round decorative LED displays, including rooftop-deck installations and continuous multi‑color lighting that can be bright, strobing and disruptive to neighbors.
"It feels like, you know, when one person sees something, then the next person will get it," Millard said, describing displays that persist after a season and sometimes operate all day and night. She said other municipalities limit outdoor decorative lighting to specific date ranges and suggested the council consider similar measures.
Council members discussed enforcement challenges and the First Amendment limits on regulating private displays, but agreed there is a difference between seasonal decorations and continuous, bright installations that affect neighbors' quality of life and local wildlife. Several councilors suggested a focused review of other towns' ordinances, possible time-of-night cutoffs or limits on intensity, and whether any ordinance language could be crafted to avoid constitutional problems.
The council asked Millard to continue research and bring back a draft ordinance or recommendations for discussion at a future meeting. No formal vote or ordinance text was introduced at this meeting.
