It is estimated that about 10,000 lighting ordinances are in effect in the United States alone. Many are easy to understand but difficult to comply with because they are often not written by lighting people. Ordinances may vary considerably from one to the next.
The Model Lighting Ordinance (MLO), produced jointly by the Illuminating Engineering Society (IES) and the International Dark-Sky Association (IDA), provides a template for municipalities seeking to develop standards for responsible outdoor lighting. Specifically, the MLO addresses skyglow, or light emitted up into the sky that obscures nighttime viewing of stars; light trespass, or light emitted onto neighboring property; and glare, or excessive brightness that impairs or disables vision.
Download a free copy of it here.
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