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Regulation

This category is for sites about the regulation of lighting via lighting laws, codes or ordinances. A lighting code or ordinance is a local code defining the allowed levels of lighting often set by local council planning departments or similar local bodies. State or national laws may also set restrictions on light pollution however it is generally accepted that permitted levels should vary from region to region making local government the main legislature on light pollution. For further information, see the sites in this category and its subcategories, or contact your local government body (e.g.:council), astronomical society or light-pollution campaign group to find out if a law or ordinance is being implemented locally.

For general information, please read the lighting code handbook.

Also, please read the FAQs and description for Society: Issues: Environment: Light Pollution for general information.

Please only submit official proposed or enacted legislation or guidance that is made for the purpose of controlling light pollution; sites that discuss the creation, enforcement or wording of such legislation, or sites that discuss particular laws or ordinances. Please submit Czech-Republic-specific, US-specific or UK-specific sites to the relevant subcategories and submit general light pollution sites to Society: Issues: Environment: Light Pollution.

Czech Republic

Category Description

Lighting legislation has been introduced at the highest level in the Czech Republic. The Czech Republic are the first country in the world to introduce national legislation to outlaw light pollution. The act is called "The Protection of the Atmosphere Act" and comes in to force in June 2002. Under the act anyone who erects a light shining outside of their property or into the sky or makes no attempt to reduce light pollution from a light may be fined $7500.

Please read the description for Society: Issues: Environment: Light Pollution: Regulation for further information.

Also, please read the FAQs and description for Society: Issues: Environment: Light Pollution for general information.

Notice to Submitters

Please only submit official Czech proposed or enacted legislation or guidance that is made for the purpose of controlling light pollution; sites that discuss the creation, enforcement or wording of such legislation, or sites that discuss particular Czech laws or ordinances.

United Kingdom

Category Description

Lighting legislation is made in the United Kingdom of Great Britain and Northern Ireland (UK) by the local planning authorities (part of the local council) in the relevant local development plans (or unitary development plans (UDP's) as they are now called in the new unitary authorities). These development plans may set down controls on the lighting on buildings before they are built or extended, but planning controls are not retrospective, therefore lights on buildings built or extended before the introduction of lighting legislation are not covered by the legislation.

The local legislation is also based upon national (UK), provincial (e.g.: Wales) and regional (e.g.:Northeast) government planning guidance in the form of planning policy guidelines (PPG's) (called planning policy statements (PPS's) in Northern Ireland and national planning policy guidelines (NPPG's) in Scotland) (which are supplemented by the more in-depth technical advice notes (TAN's) in Wales, development control advice notes (DCAN's) in Northern Ireland or planning policy notes (PAN's) in Scotland). The regional, provincial and national pieces of legislation act as templates for local legislation which may take into account local views or the expected level of pollution or urbanisation in the local areas.

The environmental health departments have no legal powers of control over light pollution though may investigate cases. This means that the problem is best tackled at the planning level.

Please read the description for Society: Issues: Environment: Light Pollution: Regulation for further information.

Also, please read the FAQs and description for Society: Issues: Environment: Light Pollution for general information.

Notice to Submitters

Please only submit official proposed or enacted legislation or guidance that is made for the purpose of controlling light pollution in the United Kingdom of Great Britain and Northern Ireland (UK); sites that discuss the creation, enforcement or wording of such legislation or guidance, or sites that discuss particular UK laws or ordinances.

United States

Category Description

Lighting legislation is made in the United States by the state and local legislature often the state legislature sets general rules which the local legislature work in the boundaries of to produce local guidelines or ordinances which set varying lighting in different areas. Also, the United States has many areas which are darksky preserves (areas, similar to national nature reserves, which are designated by the government as worthy of special protection against light pollution due to the areas' dark skyglow-free skies). Although the government is exempt from most lighting legislation there are also many separate guidelines or laws which control government-funded lighting.

Please read the description for Society: Issues: Environment: Light Pollution: Regulation for further information.

Also, please read the FAQs and description for Society: Issues: Environment: Light Pollution for general information.

Notice to Submitters

Please only submit official US proposed or enacted legislation or guidance that is made for the purpose of controlling light pollution; sites that discuss the creation, enforcement or wording of such legislation, or sites that discuss particular US laws or ordinances.