Directory of United States Resources

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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.

Resources in This Category

• 1999 State of Wyoming 99LSO-0013

  http://legisweb.state.wy.us/99sessin/sfiles/sf0017.htm
  Act to reduce light trespass and glare in the state as well as skyglow from road lighting.

• California Department Of Transportation Lighting Manual

  http://www.dot.ca.gov/hq/traffops/signtech/signdel/chp9/chap9.htm#Section_12
  Restricts wattage, height and shielding on highway lighting.

• Colorado HB-01-1160

  http://www.leg.state.co.us/2001/inetcbill.nsf/fsbillcont/05F2570D337A47C7872569C100504D8E?Open&file=1160tr_01.pdf
  An act concerning energy-efficiency and light-pollution standards for outdoor lighting fixtures funded by the state.

• Maryland -- Task Force to Study Lighting Efficiency and Light Pollution in Maryland

  http://mlis.state.md.us/2001rs/billfile/HJ0014.htm
  Resolution to create a taskforce to combat light pollution in the state.

• Maryland Outdoor Lighting Study Bill - Draft Legislation

  http://www.ladyandtramp.com/mdlighting/mdstudybill.doc
  Bill to enact lighting taskforce in the state.

• New Hampshire 2001 LP Bill HB222FH text

  http://www.gencourt.state.nh.us/legislation/2001/HB0222.html
  Bill that enacts a system of government payment for the replacement of non-government-owned unshielded lighting.

• New Hampshire House Bill 585 (2009)

  http://www.gencourt.state.nh.us/legislation/2009/HB0585.html
  Signed law which regulates the types of lighting purchased by state and municipal governments and establishes the "New Hampshire dark skies" policy.

• Pennsylvania HB-300 Outdoor Lighting Bill - General Assembly of Pennsylvania

  http://www.legis.state.pa.us/cfdocs/billinfo/BillInfo.cfm?syear=2001&sind=0&body=H&type=B&bn=300
  General state law enacted to control light pollution.

• Pennsylvania Outdoor Lighting Bill - General Assembly of Pennsylvania (proposed)

  http://www.legis.state.pa.us/cfdocs/billinfo/BillInfo.cfm?syear=1999&sind=0&body=H&type=B&bn=2825
  Proposed 1999 law to encourage low-wattage full-cut-off lighting.

• State of Maine Title 5 § 1769. Outdoor lighting

  http://www.mainelegislature.org/legis/statutes/5/title5sec1769.html
  A simple yet effective piece of legislation which restricts the use of unshielded lighting.

• Texas HB-164(2001)

  http://www.legis.state.tx.us/tlodocs/77R/billtext/html/HB00164F.htm
  Appends Texas LP Statute signed into law in September 1999. Enacted July 2000. State law to allow local regulation of lighting near astronomical observatories.

• Texas Regulation of Certain Outdoor Lighting

  http://www.legis.state.tx.us/tlodocs/76R/billtext/html/HB00916F.htm
  State legislation to encourage low-wattage, timed lighting which does not shine upwards.

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