Street Lights

Street light outages/repairs

Residents may contact the power company servicing their area directly to report any street light outages. The Baltimore Gas and Electric Company and Delmarva Power provide street light facilities and maintenance to county street lights. The dividing line between the two companies is Deer Creek from the Susquehanna River to Rocks State Park and MD Route 24 north to the Pennsylvania line. The contact numbers for the two companies are listed below to report any outages or facilities in need of repair.
 

Utility companies


     • Baltimore Gas and Electric Company 
            To report street light damage, outages or to request private area lighting,
            call 1-800-685-0123 or submit an online request at BGE Lighting Outage Report.
        
     • Delmarva Power 
            To report street light damage, outages or to request private area lighting,
            call 1-800-375-7117 or submit an online request at Delmarva Street Light Outages.

County Street Light Policy

Street light requests

Residents may request street lighting, provided it meets county criteria, for the following traffic safety conditions:

  • Areas with high accident rate
  • County road intersections
  • Hazardous curves
  • Ends of roadways (only considered where roadway exceeds 1,000 feet and there are no existing streetlights within 500 feet of end of the roads)

Public lighting

Public lighting on roads varies throughout the county. Some areas have little or no street lighting and provide a rural country atmosphere, while other, more urbanized areas have intersection and long line lighting. Public lighting is not provided for private property security lighting problems. 


Developments & subdivisions

New developments within the designated development envelope are required to provide specific development lighting.


Requests for existing developments that meet the street lighting policy requirements may be accepted by Harford County. Once funded and installed, the lights will be the county's responsibility for future maintenance and energy costs. Private area lighting requirements for areas outside of the roadway right of way should be directed to the utility company that services your area.


Intersection lighting


Normally, there are four properties at a four-way intersection that are directly affected by installation of a street light; 75% of those property owners must agree to installation and location of the light. If traffic safety issues can be documented, the light may be installed without 75% agreement. Installation is dependent on the availability of funding. County and state road intersection lighting is controlled by the Maryland State Highway Administration. Please contact the SHA to request a light at these intersections. County and private road intersection lighting is the responsibility of the owners of the private road. 


Long line lighting

This lighting provides roadway lighting between intersections in a subdivision of single-family homes or urbanized area. Townhouse communities will only have public lighting at intersections. If the distance between intersections is 800 to 1,000 feet, a light may be warranted. Funding for long line lighting is not generally available and would require an outside funding source such as a homeowners association or any other individual or group requesting the street light installation. This type of installation can only be accomplished in an area where underground electric cable is available. Contact the Harford County Street Light Representative for the cost and billing requirements. The county will assume maintenance and energy costs after the streetlight is installed.


Development lighting

In new developments, the developer provides public street lighting as a requirement of the development process. Streetlights are installed at county road intersections, at the end of a cul-de-sac that is a minimum of 500 feet length, and between intersections at 400 to 500 foot spacing. Developments with lot sizes that are two acres or larger are not required to provide lighting between intersections unless there is a traffic safety issue. If street lighting is a concern, ask the builder or the Harford County Street Light Representative to advise you of the location, type and size of any street lighting proposed near your home site.


Security lighting

This lighting is the responsibility of the affected property owner. Suggested lighting includes motion detector lighting, dusk to dawn lighting, and private area lighting provided by the utility company servicing your area. You must contact your power company for more information.


End of roadway: If the street is 500 feet or longer to its end and 75% of the adjacent property owners agree with the street light installation, a light would be considered, depending on funding availability.


Existing cul-de-sac/end of roadway lighting

If the cul-de-sac is at least 500 feet long and 75% of the property owners within the cul-de-sac agree with the street light installation, or there are no existing street lights within 500 feet of end of the road that is 1,000 feet or longer, a light would be considered. Funding for this type of lighting is not generally available and would require an outside funding source such as a homeowners association or any other individual or group requesting the street light installation.


Street light removal

If the light is not required for traffic safety and 100% of all affected property owners agree, then they must submit a petition for removal. Cost for removal will be the responsibility of the petitioners.


Please contact the Harford County Street Light Representative to request a modification to an existing public lighting facility or to request a new light installation.


Note: All street light requests are subject to the availability of existing power sources.

 

Harford County Street Light Representative

 


State Highway Administration Street Light Representative