{ "title": "Dark Sky Laws by State: US Outdoor Lighting Rules", "description": "See every US state and Canadian province with a dark sky or outdoor lighting law, from Arizona's 1986 statute to Maine's 2026 act, with citations.", "canonicalUrl": "https://darkskiesdirectory.com/articles/dark-sky-laws", "breadcrumbs": [ { "name": "Home", "url": "/" }, { "name": "Articles", "url": "/articles" }, { "name": "Dark Sky Laws by State: US Outdoor Lighting Rules", "url": "/articles/dark-sky-laws" } ], "updated": "Tue Sep 22 2026 20:00:00 GMT-0400 (Eastern Daylight Time)", "data": { "slug": "dark-sky-laws", "title": "Dark Sky Laws by State: US Outdoor Lighting Rules", "description": "See every US state and Canadian province with a dark sky or outdoor lighting law, from Arizona's 1986 statute to Maine's 2026 act, with citations.", "body_md": "Six states, Arizona, Arkansas, Delaware, Maine, Michigan, and New Mexico, have a genuine statewide outdoor lighting law on the books, according to the primary statutes collected here. Seventeen more states have limited laws that cover only state buildings, highways, or a single issue like sea turtle nesting, and the remaining 28 states plus Washington, D.C. have no statewide statute at all, leaving the job to cities and counties, as the [National Conference of State Legislatures](https://www.ncsl.org/environment-and-natural-resources/states-shut-out-light-pollution) confirms. Below is the full 50-state-plus-D.C. table, a matching table for Canada's provinces and territories, and a plain explanation of what these laws actually require.\n\n## Why outdoor lighting got legislated\n\nOutdoor lighting law grew out of four separate pressures that converged over the last four decades. The earliest driver was astronomy: observatories at Kitt Peak, Mount Lemmon, and Lowell Observatory pushed [Flagstaff, Arizona to pass a searchlight ordinance in 1958](https://flagstaff.az.gov/4042/Dark-Sky), decades before any state acted, and that same pressure produced Arizona's 1986 statewide statute described below. Wildlife protection followed: Florida's [Marine Turtle Protection Act](https://law.justia.com/codes/florida/2020/title-xxviii/chapter-379/part-ii/section-379-2431/) and Illinois's [Bird-Safe Buildings Act](https://ilga.gov/legislation/ilcs/fulltext.asp?DocName=002004050K405-317) both restrict lighting specifically to stop disoriented hatchlings and migrating birds from flying into buildings. Energy and cost concerns show up in nearly every state-facility statute on this list, such as [Maryland's](https://law.justia.com/codes/maryland/2013/article-gsf/section-14-412/) and [Minnesota's](https://www.revisor.mn.gov/statutes/cite/16B.328), which require efficient, shielded fixtures on public buildings to cut wasted light and wasted electricity together. Most recently, glare and light trespass, one neighbor's light spilling into another's yard or bedroom window, has driven a wave of municipal nuisance-lighting bylaws, including [Calgary's Community Standards Bylaw](https://www.calgary.ca/bylaws/outdoor-lights.html) and [Mississauga's Nuisance Lighting By-law](https://www.mississauga.ca/file/COM/nuisancelighting2013.pdf).\n\nSafety is the counterweight in every one of these debates: nobody is arguing for unlit streets, only for light that is shielded and aimed down instead of spilled sideways and up. That distinction, glare versus usable light, is the core idea behind every ordinance on this page, and it is explained in more detail in our guide to [dark-sky-friendly outdoor lighting](/dark-sky-lighting).\n\n## Dark sky laws in all 50 states and Washington, D.C.\n\n\"Statewide law\" below means a real outdoor-lighting or light-pollution statute applies broadly across the state. \"Limited law\" means the rule covers only state-funded buildings, highways, a single wildlife issue, or a voluntary program. \"No statewide law\" means regulation, if any, exists only at the city or county level. Click any state to see its full statute list, municipal codes, and sources on its own page in the [dark sky laws hub](/laws).\n\n| State | Status | Key law (citation) | What it does |\n|---|---|---|---|\n| [Alabama](/laws/AL) | No statewide law | No statewide law | No outdoor lighting statute; no notable municipal dark-sky ordinance found. |\n| [Alaska](/laws/AK) | No statewide law | No statewide law | No outdoor lighting or light pollution statute. |\n| [Arizona](/laws/AZ) | Statewide law | [A.R.S. §§ 49-1101 to 49-1104](https://law.justia.com/codes/arizona/2022/title-49/section-49-1101/) (1986) | The country's oldest dark-sky law; requires shielded fixtures statewide and bans new mercury vapor lamps. |\n| [Arkansas](/laws/AR) | Statewide law | [Shielded Outdoor Lighting Act, Ark. Code §§ 8-14-101 to 8-14-107](https://law.justia.com/codes/arkansas/title-8/chapter-14/section-8-14-107/) (2005) | Requires shielded fixtures statewide, but yields to any stricter local ordinance. |\n| [California](/laws/CA) | No statewide law | No statewide law | Regulated only through Title 24 energy code and local ordinances, such as [San Diego County's](https://www.sandiegocounty.gov/content/dam/sdc/pds/docs/pds211.pdf) near Palomar Observatory. |\n| [Colorado](/laws/CO) | Limited law | [C.R.S. § 24-82-902](https://law.justia.com/codes/colorado/2025/title-24/state-property/article-82/part-9/section-24-82-902/); [§ 24-49.7-110](https://law.justia.com/codes/colorado/2023/title-24/other-agencies/article-49-7/section-24-49-7-110/) (2022) | Covers state-funded lighting only; a 2022 program grants funds toward Dark Sky designation. |\n| [Connecticut](/laws/CT) | Limited law | [Conn. Gen. Stat. § 4b-16](https://law.justia.com/codes/connecticut/title-4b/chapter-59/section-4b-16/) | Shielding standards for state building grounds and highway lighting, not private property. |\n| [Delaware](/laws/DE) | Statewide law | [Del. Code tit. 7, ch. 71A, § 7101A](https://law.justia.com/codes/delaware/title-7/chapter-71a/section-7101a/) (75 Del. Laws, c. 202, 2005-2006 session) | Defines light pollution and cutoff luminaires, and requires them for new or replaced outdoor lighting built with state funds. |\n| [District of Columbia](/laws/DC) | No statewide law | No statewide law | Only directs a study of adaptive street lighting technology; sets no lighting limits. |\n| [Florida](/laws/FL) | Limited law | [Fla. Stat. § 379.2431](https://law.justia.com/codes/florida/2020/title-xxviii/chapter-379/part-ii/section-379-2431/); [Model Lighting Ordinance, Fla. Admin. Code r. 62B-55](https://floridadep.gov/sites/default/files/62B-55_ModelLightingOrdinance_NPR_0.pdf) | A statewide model ordinance restricts beachfront lighting for nesting sea turtles where over 50 counties and cities have adopted it locally. |\n| [Georgia](/laws/GA) | No statewide law | No statewide law | Sea-turtle lighting is handled by individual coastal cities, such as Tybee and Jekyll Island. |\n| [Hawaii](/laws/HI) | Limited law | [Haw. Rev. Stat. § 201-8.5](https://law.justia.com/codes/hawaii/2018/title-13/chapter-201/section-201-8.5/) | Requires shielded, 4,000K-or-cooler state-agency fixtures in counties over 100,000 residents. |\n| [Idaho](/laws/ID) | No statewide law | No statewide law | No outdoor lighting or light pollution statute. |\n| [Illinois](/laws/IL) | Limited law | [Bird-Safe Buildings Act, 20 ILCS 405/405-317](https://ilga.gov/legislation/ilcs/fulltext.asp?DocName=002004050K405-317) (2021) | Reduces nighttime lighting on new state buildings, mainly to cut bird collisions. |\n| [Indiana](/laws/IN) | No statewide law | No statewide law | Related statutes cover solar/wind glare and airport lighting only. |\n| [Iowa](/laws/IA) | No statewide law | No statewide law | Related statute covers only lights that interfere with highway signals. |\n| [Kansas](/laws/KS) | No statewide law | No statewide law | Related statutes cover highway signage and wind turbine obstruction lighting. |\n| [Kentucky](/laws/KY) | No statewide law | No statewide law | Related statutes cover highway advertising devices, not general lighting. |\n| [Louisiana](/laws/LA) | No statewide law | No statewide law | No outdoor lighting or light pollution statute. |\n| [Maine](/laws/ME) | Statewide law | [An Act to Promote Responsible Outdoor Lighting, LD 1934](https://www.accessfixtures.com/maine-responsible-outdoor-lighting-act/) (2026) | Caps new public lighting at 3000K, requires shielding above 1,000 lumens, and adds curfews; effective October 1, 2026. |\n| [Maryland](/laws/MD) | Limited law | [Md. Code Ann., State Fin. & Proc. § 14-412](https://law.justia.com/codes/maryland/2013/article-gsf/section-14-412/) | Applies only to state-funded lighting on state building grounds. |\n| [Massachusetts](/laws/MA) | No statewide law (bill pending) | [An Act to Improve Outdoor Lighting, S.3145/H.3164](https://malegislature.gov/Bills/193/H3164.Html) | Would cap color temperature and require shielding on public lighting; passed the Senate and was [still moving through the House as of August 2026](https://recorder.com/2026/08/11/massachusetts-dark-skies-bill-advances/). |\n| [Michigan](/laws/MI) | Statewide law | [Mich. Comp. Laws §§ 324.75101 to 324.75106](https://law.justia.com/codes/michigan/2023/chapter-324/statute-act-451-of-1994/article-iii/division-451-1994-iii-4/division-451-1994-iii-4-2/division-451-1994-iii-4-2-parks/division-451-1994-iii-4-2-parks-751/section-324-75106/) (2015) | Lets the DNR designate state-park dark sky preserves with their own lighting rules. |\n| [Minnesota](/laws/MN) | Limited law | [Minn. Stat. § 16B.328](https://www.revisor.mn.gov/statutes/cite/16B.328) | Requires cutoff luminaires on new state-funded lighting, including highways. |\n| [Mississippi](/laws/MS) | No statewide law | No statewide law | No outdoor lighting or light pollution statute. |\n| [Missouri](/laws/MO) | No statewide law | No statewide law | Related statute covers only lighting on permitted highway signs. |\n| [Montana](/laws/MT) | No statewide law | No statewide law | Regulated locally; [Missoula](https://www.ci.missoula.mt.us/DocumentCenter/View/587/Lighting-Ordinance-Number-3341), Whitefish, Great Falls, Livingston, and Kalispell each have their own code. |\n| [Nebraska](/laws/NE) | No statewide law | No statewide law | Not listed among states with light-pollution legislation by NCSL. |\n| [Nevada](/laws/NV) | Limited law | [NRS 407A.570(3)(m), 2021 SB 52](https://archive.leg.state.nv.us/Session/81st2021/Bills/SB/SB52_EN.pdf) | Created a voluntary Dark Sky designation program; sets no fixture or curfew rules. |\n| [New Hampshire](/laws/NH) | Limited law | [RSA Title 9-E, § 9-E:3](https://law.justia.com/codes/new-hampshire/2022/title-i/title-9-e/section-9-e-3/) (2009) | States it is policy to encourage, not require, towns to adopt dark-sky ordinances. |\n| [New Jersey](/laws/NJ) | No statewide law | No statewide law | A study commission and [bill A3080](https://pub.njleg.gov/Bills/2022/A3500/3080_I1.HTM) exist, but no statute has passed. |\n| [New Mexico](/laws/NM) | Statewide law | [Night Sky Protection Act, NMSA 1978 §§ 74-12-1 to 74-12-10](http://darkskynm.org/nspa.pdf) (1999) | Requires shielded fixtures statewide and an 11 p.m. curfew on outdoor recreation lighting. |\n| [New York](/laws/NY) | Limited law | [N.Y. Public Buildings Law § 143](https://www.ncsl.org/environment-and-natural-resources/states-shut-out-light-pollution) | Requires fully-shielded fixtures on new state buildings only; broader [2025 bills](https://www.nysenate.gov/legislation/bills/2025/A4615) remain unenacted. |\n| [North Carolina](/laws/NC) | No statewide law | No statewide law | A statewide Sea Turtle Protection Act has been [filed repeatedly but not passed](https://www.ncleg.gov/Sessions/2023/Bills/House/HTML/H1053v1.HTML). |\n| [North Dakota](/laws/ND) | No statewide law | No statewide law | A [2025 dark-sky resolution failed](https://northdakotamonitor.com/briefs/dark-sky-week-deemed-dangerous-fails-in-north-dakota-senate/) in the state Senate. |\n| [Ohio](/laws/OH) | No statewide law | No statewide law | Regulated locally, e.g. [Moreland Hills](https://codelibrary.amlegal.com/codes/morelandhills/latest/morelandhills_oh/0-0-0-15694), Gambier, and Green. |\n| [Oklahoma](/laws/OK) | No statewide law | No statewide law | Related statutes cover vehicle lamps, not fixed outdoor lighting. |\n| [Oregon](/laws/OR) | Limited law | [Or. Rev. Stat. § 455.573](https://www.ncsl.org/environment-and-natural-resources/states-shut-out-light-pollution) | Requires shielded fixtures on public buildings only. |\n| [Pennsylvania](/laws/PA) | No statewide law | No statewide law | A [2023 bill](https://www.palegis.us/legislation/bills/text/PDF/2023/0/HB1803/PN3015) was introduced but not enacted. |\n| [Rhode Island](/laws/RI) | Limited law | [R.I. Gen. Laws §§ 42-136-1 et seq.](https://www.ncsl.org/environment-and-natural-resources/states-shut-out-light-pollution) | Limits upward light from state-funded fixtures above 3,200 lumens. |\n| [South Carolina](/laws/SC) | No statewide law | No statewide law | A statewide Sea Turtle Protection Act has died in committee repeatedly since 2009. |\n| [South Dakota](/laws/SD) | No statewide law | No statewide law | Not listed among states with light-pollution legislation by NCSL. |\n| [Tennessee](/laws/TN) | No statewide law | No statewide law | Related statute covers vehicle lighting only. |\n| [Texas](/laws/TX) | Limited law | [Tex. Health & Safety Code ch. 425](https://statutes.capitol.texas.gov/Docs/HS/htm/HS.425.HTM); [Local Gov't Code § 240.031](https://darkskytexas.org/texas-outdoor-lighting-codes-regulations/) (2021) | Covers state-funded facilities; lets select counties regulate lighting near bases and observatories. |\n| [Utah](/laws/UT) | No statewide law | No statewide law | Only non-binding resolutions passed; binding rules exist locally, e.g. [Emigration Canyon](https://www.utah.gov/pmn/files/847297.pdf). |\n| [Vermont](/laws/VT) | Limited law | [10 V.S.A. § 591](https://law.justia.com/codes/vermont/2009/title-10/chapter-24/591/) | Sets up an advisory board for voluntary municipal guidelines, not mandatory rules. |\n| [Virginia](/laws/VA) | Limited law | [Va. Code § 2.2-1111](https://www.ncsl.org/environment-and-natural-resources/states-shut-out-light-pollution); [§ 15.2-920](https://law.lis.virginia.gov/vacode/title15.2/chapter9/section15.2-920/) | Requires shielded fixtures at state agencies; authorizes, does not require, local rules near sensitive sites. |\n| [Washington](/laws/WA) | Limited law | [2023 HB 1173](https://lawfilesext.leg.wa.gov/Biennium/2023-24/Htm/Bills/House%20Bills/1173.htm) | Requires wind turbines to use aircraft-detection lighting instead of continuous obstruction lights. |\n| [West Virginia](/laws/WV) | No statewide law | No statewide law | A [1999 bill](http://www.wvlegislature.gov/Bill_Status/bills_text.cfm?billdoc=HB2995+INTR.htm&yr=1999&sesstype=RS&i=2995) was introduced but not confirmed enacted. |\n| [Wisconsin](/laws/WI) | No statewide law | No statewide law | Regulated locally, e.g. [Madison](https://captimes.com/news/government/madison-city-council-adjusts-outdoor-light-rules-to-apply-as-dark-sky-community/article_489270ec-a9b8-5038-b250-a0587e6f887b.html) and the Town of Amnicon. |\n| [Wyoming](/laws/WY) | Limited law | [Wyo. Stat. § 37-16-202](https://www.ncsl.org/environment-and-natural-resources/states-shut-out-light-pollution) | Requires utilities to offer a light-trespass-reducing tariff option; not a mandate. |\n\n## The states that led the way\n\nFive states anchor the story of how dark-sky law actually spread. [Arizona passed the first statewide outdoor lighting law in 1986](https://law.justia.com/codes/arizona/2022/title-49/section-49-1101/), building on Flagstaff's 1958 searchlight ordinance and the observatory-protection movement around Kitt Peak and Lowell Observatory; Flagstaff itself became the [world's first International Dark Sky Place in 2001](https://flagstaff.az.gov/4042/Dark-Sky). Thirteen years later, [New Mexico's Night Sky Protection Act of 1999](http://darkskynm.org/nspa.pdf) became the second statewide law, requiring shielded fixtures and putting an 11 p.m. curfew on lit sports fields except to finish a game in progress. For nearly two decades no other state followed with a comparably broad statute. [Delaware](https://law.justia.com/codes/delaware/title-7/chapter-71a/section-7101a/) adopted a narrower rule in its 2005-2006 legislative session, defining light pollution and requiring cutoff luminaires, but only for outdoor lighting fixtures built or replaced with state funds, not a general statewide framework. Maine closed that gap in 2026: its [Act to Promote Responsible Outdoor Lighting](https://www.accessfixtures.com/maine-responsible-outdoor-lighting-act/) takes effect October 1, 2026, capping new public lighting at 3000 Kelvin, requiring full shielding above 1,000 lumens, and giving municipalities until December 31, 2028 to extend similar rules to private property. Massachusetts may be next: its [Dark Skies bill](https://malegislature.gov/Bills/193/H3164.Html) passed the Senate in 2026 and was still working through the House as of August 2026, without having reached the governor's desk.\n\n## Canadian provinces and territories\n\nNo Canadian province has a broad, dedicated outdoor-lighting statute comparable to Arizona's or New Mexico's. Instead, protection comes from a patchwork of municipal bylaws, provincial park policy, and federally managed national parks, several of which carry a [Royal Astronomical Society of Canada (RASC) Dark-Sky Preserve](https://rasc.ca/lpa/dark-sky-sites) designation.\n\n| Province/territory | Status | Key rule | What it does |\n|---|---|---|---|\n| [Alberta](/laws/AB) | Municipal only | [Calgary Community Standards Bylaw 32M2023](https://www.calgary.ca/bylaws/outdoor-lights.html) (2023) | Bans outdoor lights that shine directly into a neighboring home's living or sleeping areas; [Bon Accord became Canada's first certified Dark Sky Community in 2015](https://darksky.org/locations/canada/). |\n| [British Columbia](/laws/BC) | None | No provincial or municipal bylaw | A [Vancouver councillor's push](https://www.cbc.ca/news/canada/british-columbia/elizabeth-ball-seeks-dark-sky-legislation-for-vancouver-light-pollution-1.2943019) for dark-sky rules did not produce a bylaw. |\n| [Manitoba](/laws/MB) | Provincial policy | [Manitoba Parks Dark-Sky Preserve program](https://www.gov.mb.ca/sd/parks/recreation-and-activities/nightskies/index.html) (2022) | Spruce Woods Provincial Park became the province's first RASC Dark-Sky Preserve on September 4, 2022. |\n| [New Brunswick](/laws/NB) | Park-based | No dedicated provincial statute | Fundy, Kouchibouguac, and Mount Carleton are all [RASC Dark-Sky Preserves](https://rasc.ca/lpa/dark-sky-sites). |\n| [Newfoundland and Labrador](/laws/NL) | None | No provincial or municipal law | [Terra Nova National Park was designated a RASC Dark-Sky Preserve in 2018](https://www.canada.ca/en/parks-canada/news/2018/03/terra-nova-national-park-officially-designated-as-a-dark-sky-preserve.html). |\n| [Nova Scotia](/laws/NS) | None | No provincial or municipal law | Kejimkujik National Park has been a RASC Dark-Sky Preserve since 2010. |\n| [Ontario](/laws/ON) | Municipal only | [Huntsville Outdoor Lighting By-law](https://doppleronline.ca/huntsville/outdoor-lighting-bylaw/) (2016); [Muskoka Lakes Dark Sky By-law 2023-009](https://muskokalakes.civicweb.net/document/78279/) | Cottage-country towns lead Canada on local shielding rules; Ontario also holds more RASC Dark-Sky Preserves than any other province. |\n| [Prince Edward Island](/laws/PE) | None | No provincial or municipal law | A [South Shore dark-sky preserve](https://www.countylive.ca/imagining-a-dark-sky-preserve-at-countys-south-shore/) has been discussed but not created. |\n| [Quebec](/laws/QC) | Regional bylaw | [Règlement de contrôle de l'éclairage extérieur, MRC du Granit](https://www.cieletoilemontmegantic.org/en/reglementations) (2020) | Caps color temperature at 2200K and imposes evening curfews around the Mont-Megantic International Dark Sky Reserve. |\n| [Saskatchewan](/laws/SK) | None | No provincial or municipal law | Protection comes from Grasslands National Park and Cypress Hills Interprovincial Park. |\n| [Yukon](/laws/YT) | None | No territorial or municipal law | No officially designated dark-sky site yet, despite proposals for Kluane National Park. |\n| [Northwest Territories](/laws/NT) | None | No territorial or municipal law | Wood Buffalo National Park has been a RASC Dark-Sky Preserve since 2013. |\n| [Nunavut](/laws/NU) | None | No legislation, no designated site | None has been publicly proposed to date. |\n\nQuebec's rules stand out as the most detailed in Canada: three regional municipalities around the [Mont-Megantic International Dark Sky Reserve](https://www.cieletoilemontmegantic.org/en/reglementations), Sherbrooke, Haut-Saint-Francois, and Granit, jointly cap upward light spill at 1 to 2.5 percent and set 10 p.m. or 11 p.m. curfews on non-essential outdoor lighting.\n\n## Municipal ordinances: where most of the real protection lives\n\nBecause 28 US states and most Canadian provinces have no statewide law, cities and counties do the actual regulating. Two Arizona examples show the range: [Flagstaff's lighting code](https://flagstaff.az.gov/4042/Dark-Sky) traces to a 1958 searchlight restriction, while the joint city-county [Tucson/Pima County Outdoor Lighting Code](https://www.tucsonaz.gov/files/sharedassets/public/v/1/city-services/planning-development-services/documents/2012_outdoor_lighting_code_.pdf), first adopted in the 1990s and revised in 2012 and 2024, limits shielding, total lumens, and color temperature to protect the observatories on Kitt Peak and Mount Lemmon. In Colorado, [Westcliffe and Silver Cliff](https://darkskycolorado.org/darsky-colorado/) adopted a joint ordinance to become the state's first International Dark Sky Community in 2015. In Ontario, [Huntsville's bylaw](https://doppleronline.ca/huntsville/outdoor-lighting-bylaw/) required full cutoff, downward-shielded fixtures on new construction starting in January 2016 and gave existing property owners until January 2026 to upgrade, while also restricting dock lights to warm amber or yellow tones. Florida takes a hybrid approach: the state maintains one [statewide model lighting ordinance for sea turtle protection](https://floridadep.gov/sites/default/files/62B-55_ModelLightingOrdinance_NPR_0.pdf), and it only takes legal effect where a county or city, such as [Volusia County](https://www.volusia.org/core/fileparse.php/6748/urlt/Turtle-Lighting-508.pdf) or [Sarasota](https://sarasota.wateratlas.usf.edu/upload/documents/OrdNo2004-118_signedUpdated.pdf), formally adopts it.\n\nIf your town has no ordinance at all, New Jersey's [voluntary model lighting ordinance template](https://anjec.org/wp-content/uploads/2026/01/New-Jersey-Model-Lighting-Ordinance-Template-for-Municipalities.pdf) and the [joint IDA-IES Model Lighting Ordinance](https://store.ies.org/product/ida-ies-mlo-11-model-lighting-ordinance-mlo-with-users-guide/), the reference document most US municipal codes on this page draw from, are the two most useful starting drafts for a town council to adapt.\n\n## What a good outdoor lighting ordinance actually requires\n\nWhether it is a 1986 state statute or a 2025 township bylaw, the ordinances that hold up over time converge on the same handful of rules, closely tracking DarkSky International's [five principles for responsible outdoor lighting](https://darksky.org/resources/guides-and-how-tos/lighting-principles/): light should have a clear purpose, be directed only where needed, be no brighter than necessary, be controlled with timers or motion sensors, and use warmer color temperatures. In statute language, that becomes four concrete requirements. Shielding: fixtures must be \"fully shielded\" or \"full cutoff,\" meaning no light escapes above the horizontal plane of the fixture, the core requirement in [Arizona's](https://law.justia.com/codes/arizona/2022/title-49/section-49-1101/), [New Mexico's](http://darkskynm.org/nspa.pdf), and [Maine's](https://www.accessfixtures.com/maine-responsible-outdoor-lighting-act/) laws. Color temperature: newer laws such as Maine's cap fixtures at 3000 Kelvin or lower, and Quebec's Mont-Megantic zone goes further at 2200K, because bluer, cooler light scatters more in the atmosphere and washes out more stars. Brightness limits: rules are typically written as a lumen threshold, commonly 1,800 lumens (roughly a 100-watt incandescent equivalent) in [Maryland's](https://law.justia.com/codes/maryland/2013/article-gsf/section-14-412/) and [Minnesota's](https://www.revisor.mn.gov/statutes/cite/16B.328) statutes, above which shielding becomes mandatory. Curfews: New Mexico requires recreational field lighting off by 11 p.m., Maine requires nonessential lighting off between 10 p.m. and sunrise, and Quebec's regional rule sets a similar 10 or 11 p.m. cutoff for non-essential fixtures.\n\nHomeowners looking to meet these standards on their own property, whether or not their town requires it, can find fixture-by-fixture guidance in our [dark-sky-friendly outdoor lighting guide](/dark-sky-lighting).\n\n## How to push for a lighting ordinance in your town\n\nEvery ordinance on this page started with a resident or a small group raising the issue with a town council or county board, usually with three ingredients: a specific complaint (glare from a new development, a sports field kept lit past bedtime, or a stargazing spot losing its view), a model to point to (the [IDA-IES Model Lighting Ordinance](https://store.ies.org/product/ida-ies-mlo-11-model-lighting-ordinance-mlo-with-users-guide/) or a neighboring town's bylaw, such as [Huntsville's](https://doppleronline.ca/huntsville/outdoor-lighting-bylaw/)), and a champion on the council willing to sponsor a vote, the path New Hampshire's law explicitly [encourages towns to follow](https://law.justia.com/codes/new-hampshire/2022/title-i/title-9-e/section-9-e-3/) even without mandating it. DarkSky International's own [International Dark Sky Places program](https://darksky.org/) certifies parks, communities, and preserves that adopt qualifying lighting rules, giving a town a concrete, marketable goal to organize around, similar to how [Westcliffe and Silver Cliff, Colorado](https://darkskycolorado.org/darsky-colorado/) and [Bon Accord, Alberta](https://darksky.org/locations/canada/) built their bylaws around that same certification. Once a rule passes, the certified parks and preserves it protects show up in our [dark sky places directory](/places), and the celestial events worth protecting a dark view for are tracked on our [events calendar](/events).\n\n## Quick answers\n\n**Which US states have dark sky laws?** Six states, Arizona (1986), Arkansas (2005), Delaware (2005-2006), Maine (2026), Michigan (2015), and New Mexico (1999), have statewide outdoor lighting laws. Seventeen more have limited laws covering only state buildings, highways, or specific issues like sea turtles, and 28 states plus [Washington, D.C. have no statewide statute](https://www.ncsl.org/environment-and-natural-resources/states-shut-out-light-pollution) at all.\n\n**Is light pollution illegal?** Only where a specific law makes it so. In [Arizona](https://law.justia.com/codes/arizona/2022/title-49/section-49-1101/) and [New Mexico](http://darkskynm.org/nspa.pdf), unshielded new fixtures above the statutory threshold are a violation; in most other states, a neighbor's glaring floodlight is a nuisance matter for local code enforcement or civil court, not a state crime, unless your city has its own bylaw like [Mississauga's](https://www.mississauga.ca/file/COM/nuisancelighting2013.pdf).\n\n**What is a full cutoff fixture requirement?** It means a light fixture must be built and aimed so no light escapes above the horizontal plane of the fixture itself, eliminating direct uplight into the sky. It is the central mechanic of [Arizona's](https://law.justia.com/codes/arizona/2022/title-49/section-49-1101/), [New Mexico's](http://darkskynm.org/nspa.pdf), and [Maine's](https://www.accessfixtures.com/maine-responsible-outdoor-lighting-act/) statutes and most municipal codes on this page.\n\n**Do any Canadian provinces regulate outdoor lighting?** No province has a broad statute; [Manitoba](https://www.gov.mb.ca/sd/parks/recreation-and-activities/nightskies/index.html) runs a provincial dark-sky preserve program, and regional rules around Quebec's [Mont-Megantic reserve](https://www.cieletoilemontmegantic.org/en/reglementations) and Ontario cottage-country towns like [Huntsville](https://doppleronline.ca/huntsville/outdoor-lighting-bylaw/) are the strictest in the country.\n\n**Can my neighbor's light be a legal nuisance?** In places with a light-trespass bylaw, such as [Calgary's](https://www.calgary.ca/bylaws/outdoor-lights.html), yes, a fixture that shines directly into your living or sleeping area can be a bylaw violation you can report. Elsewhere it typically falls under general nuisance law, which varies by state and is worth checking with your local code enforcement office before assuming nothing can be done.\n\n**Which state passed the first dark-sky law?** [Arizona, in 1986](https://law.justia.com/codes/arizona/2022/title-49/section-49-1101/), remains the oldest statewide outdoor lighting law in the country, though Flagstaff's 1958 municipal searchlight restriction predates it by nearly three decades and helped inspire it. Learn more about how light pollution affects what you can actually see at night in our guide to [stargazing for beginners](/stargazing-for-beginners).", "hero_image": "/images/dark-sky-laws.webp", "category": "laws", "published_at": "Tue Sep 22 2026 20:00:00 GMT-0400 (Eastern Daylight Time)", "updated_at": "Tue Sep 22 2026 20:00:00 GMT-0400 (Eastern Daylight Time)", "sources_json": "[\"https://law.justia.com/codes/arizona/2022/title-49/section-49-1101/\",\"https://flagstaff.az.gov/4042/Dark-Sky\",\"https://www.tucsonaz.gov/files/sharedassets/public/v/1/city-services/planning-development-services/documents/2012_outdoor_lighting_code_.pdf\",\"https://law.justia.com/codes/arkansas/title-8/chapter-14/section-8-14-107/\",\"https://www.sandiegocounty.gov/content/dam/sdc/pds/docs/pds211.pdf\",\"https://law.justia.com/codes/colorado/2025/title-24/state-property/article-82/part-9/section-24-82-902/\",\"https://law.justia.com/codes/colorado/2023/title-24/other-agencies/article-49-7/section-24-49-7-110/\",\"https://darkskycolorado.org/darsky-colorado/\",\"https://law.justia.com/codes/connecticut/title-4b/chapter-59/section-4b-16/\",\"https://law.justia.com/codes/delaware/title-7/chapter-71a/section-7101a/\",\"https://law.justia.com/codes/florida/2020/title-xxviii/chapter-379/part-ii/section-379-2431/\",\"https://floridadep.gov/sites/default/files/62B-55_ModelLightingOrdinance_NPR_0.pdf\",\"https://www.volusia.org/core/fileparse.php/6748/urlt/Turtle-Lighting-508.pdf\",\"https://sarasota.wateratlas.usf.edu/upload/documents/OrdNo2004-118_signedUpdated.pdf\",\"https://law.justia.com/codes/hawaii/2018/title-13/chapter-201/section-201-8.5/\",\"https://ilga.gov/legislation/ilcs/fulltext.asp?DocName=002004050K405-317\",\"https://www.accessfixtures.com/maine-responsible-outdoor-lighting-act/\",\"https://law.justia.com/codes/maryland/2013/article-gsf/section-14-412/\",\"https://malegislature.gov/Bills/193/H3164.Html\",\"https://recorder.com/2026/08/11/massachusetts-dark-skies-bill-advances/\",\"https://law.justia.com/codes/michigan/2023/chapter-324/statute-act-451-of-1994/article-iii/division-451-1994-iii-4/division-451-1994-iii-4-2/division-451-1994-iii-4-2-parks/division-451-1994-iii-4-2-parks-751/section-324-75106/\",\"https://www.revisor.mn.gov/statutes/cite/16B.328\",\"https://www.ci.missoula.mt.us/DocumentCenter/View/587/Lighting-Ordinance-Number-3341\",\"https://www.ncsl.org/environment-and-natural-resources/states-shut-out-light-pollution\",\"https://archive.leg.state.nv.us/Session/81st2021/Bills/SB/SB52_EN.pdf\",\"https://law.justia.com/codes/new-hampshire/2022/title-i/title-9-e/section-9-e-3/\",\"https://pub.njleg.gov/Bills/2022/A3500/3080_I1.HTM\",\"http://darkskynm.org/nspa.pdf\",\"https://www.nysenate.gov/legislation/bills/2025/A4615\",\"https://www.ncleg.gov/Sessions/2023/Bills/House/HTML/H1053v1.HTML\",\"https://northdakotamonitor.com/briefs/dark-sky-week-deemed-dangerous-fails-in-north-dakota-senate/\",\"https://codelibrary.amlegal.com/codes/morelandhills/latest/morelandhills_oh/0-0-0-15694\",\"https://www.palegis.us/legislation/bills/text/PDF/2023/0/HB1803/PN3015\",\"https://statutes.capitol.texas.gov/Docs/HS/htm/HS.425.HTM\",\"https://darkskytexas.org/texas-outdoor-lighting-codes-regulations/\",\"https://www.utah.gov/pmn/files/847297.pdf\",\"https://law.justia.com/codes/vermont/2009/title-10/chapter-24/591/\",\"https://law.lis.virginia.gov/vacode/title15.2/chapter9/section15.2-920/\",\"https://lawfilesext.leg.wa.gov/Biennium/2023-24/Htm/Bills/House%20Bills/1173.htm\",\"http://www.wvlegislature.gov/Bill_Status/bills_text.cfm?billdoc=HB2995+INTR.htm&yr=1999&sesstype=RS&i=2995\",\"https://captimes.com/news/government/madison-city-council-adjusts-outdoor-light-rules-to-apply-as-dark-sky-community/article_489270ec-a9b8-5038-b250-a0587e6f887b.html\",\"https://www.calgary.ca/bylaws/outdoor-lights.html\",\"https://darksky.org/locations/canada/\",\"https://www.cbc.ca/news/canada/british-columbia/elizabeth-ball-seeks-dark-sky-legislation-for-vancouver-light-pollution-1.2943019\",\"https://www.gov.mb.ca/sd/parks/recreation-and-activities/nightskies/index.html\",\"https://rasc.ca/lpa/dark-sky-sites\",\"https://www.canada.ca/en/parks-canada/news/2018/03/terra-nova-national-park-officially-designated-as-a-dark-sky-preserve.html\",\"https://doppleronline.ca/huntsville/outdoor-lighting-bylaw/\",\"https://muskokalakes.civicweb.net/document/78279/\",\"https://www.mississauga.ca/file/COM/nuisancelighting2013.pdf\",\"https://www.countylive.ca/imagining-a-dark-sky-preserve-at-countys-south-shore/\",\"https://www.cieletoilemontmegantic.org/en/reglementations\",\"https://anjec.org/wp-content/uploads/2026/01/New-Jersey-Model-Lighting-Ordinance-Template-for-Municipalities.pdf\",\"https://darksky.org/resources/guides-and-how-tos/lighting-principles/\",\"https://store.ies.org/product/ida-ies-mlo-11-model-lighting-ordinance-mlo-with-users-guide/\",\"https://darksky.org/\"]", "sources": [ "https://law.justia.com/codes/arizona/2022/title-49/section-49-1101/", "https://flagstaff.az.gov/4042/Dark-Sky", "https://www.tucsonaz.gov/files/sharedassets/public/v/1/city-services/planning-development-services/documents/2012_outdoor_lighting_code_.pdf", "https://law.justia.com/codes/arkansas/title-8/chapter-14/section-8-14-107/", "https://www.sandiegocounty.gov/content/dam/sdc/pds/docs/pds211.pdf", "https://law.justia.com/codes/colorado/2025/title-24/state-property/article-82/part-9/section-24-82-902/", "https://law.justia.com/codes/colorado/2023/title-24/other-agencies/article-49-7/section-24-49-7-110/", "https://darkskycolorado.org/darsky-colorado/", "https://law.justia.com/codes/connecticut/title-4b/chapter-59/section-4b-16/", "https://law.justia.com/codes/delaware/title-7/chapter-71a/section-7101a/", "https://law.justia.com/codes/florida/2020/title-xxviii/chapter-379/part-ii/section-379-2431/", "https://floridadep.gov/sites/default/files/62B-55_ModelLightingOrdinance_NPR_0.pdf", "https://www.volusia.org/core/fileparse.php/6748/urlt/Turtle-Lighting-508.pdf", "https://sarasota.wateratlas.usf.edu/upload/documents/OrdNo2004-118_signedUpdated.pdf", "https://law.justia.com/codes/hawaii/2018/title-13/chapter-201/section-201-8.5/", "https://ilga.gov/legislation/ilcs/fulltext.asp?DocName=002004050K405-317", "https://www.accessfixtures.com/maine-responsible-outdoor-lighting-act/", "https://law.justia.com/codes/maryland/2013/article-gsf/section-14-412/", "https://malegislature.gov/Bills/193/H3164.Html", "https://recorder.com/2026/08/11/massachusetts-dark-skies-bill-advances/", "https://law.justia.com/codes/michigan/2023/chapter-324/statute-act-451-of-1994/article-iii/division-451-1994-iii-4/division-451-1994-iii-4-2/division-451-1994-iii-4-2-parks/division-451-1994-iii-4-2-parks-751/section-324-75106/", "https://www.revisor.mn.gov/statutes/cite/16B.328", "https://www.ci.missoula.mt.us/DocumentCenter/View/587/Lighting-Ordinance-Number-3341", "https://www.ncsl.org/environment-and-natural-resources/states-shut-out-light-pollution", "https://archive.leg.state.nv.us/Session/81st2021/Bills/SB/SB52_EN.pdf", "https://law.justia.com/codes/new-hampshire/2022/title-i/title-9-e/section-9-e-3/", "https://pub.njleg.gov/Bills/2022/A3500/3080_I1.HTM", "http://darkskynm.org/nspa.pdf", "https://www.nysenate.gov/legislation/bills/2025/A4615", "https://www.ncleg.gov/Sessions/2023/Bills/House/HTML/H1053v1.HTML", "https://northdakotamonitor.com/briefs/dark-sky-week-deemed-dangerous-fails-in-north-dakota-senate/", "https://codelibrary.amlegal.com/codes/morelandhills/latest/morelandhills_oh/0-0-0-15694", "https://www.palegis.us/legislation/bills/text/PDF/2023/0/HB1803/PN3015", "https://statutes.capitol.texas.gov/Docs/HS/htm/HS.425.HTM", "https://darkskytexas.org/texas-outdoor-lighting-codes-regulations/", "https://www.utah.gov/pmn/files/847297.pdf", "https://law.justia.com/codes/vermont/2009/title-10/chapter-24/591/", "https://law.lis.virginia.gov/vacode/title15.2/chapter9/section15.2-920/", "https://lawfilesext.leg.wa.gov/Biennium/2023-24/Htm/Bills/House%20Bills/1173.htm", "http://www.wvlegislature.gov/Bill_Status/bills_text.cfm?billdoc=HB2995+INTR.htm&yr=1999&sesstype=RS&i=2995", "https://captimes.com/news/government/madison-city-council-adjusts-outdoor-light-rules-to-apply-as-dark-sky-community/article_489270ec-a9b8-5038-b250-a0587e6f887b.html", "https://www.calgary.ca/bylaws/outdoor-lights.html", "https://darksky.org/locations/canada/", "https://www.cbc.ca/news/canada/british-columbia/elizabeth-ball-seeks-dark-sky-legislation-for-vancouver-light-pollution-1.2943019", "https://www.gov.mb.ca/sd/parks/recreation-and-activities/nightskies/index.html", "https://rasc.ca/lpa/dark-sky-sites", "https://www.canada.ca/en/parks-canada/news/2018/03/terra-nova-national-park-officially-designated-as-a-dark-sky-preserve.html", "https://doppleronline.ca/huntsville/outdoor-lighting-bylaw/", "https://muskokalakes.civicweb.net/document/78279/", "https://www.mississauga.ca/file/COM/nuisancelighting2013.pdf", "https://www.countylive.ca/imagining-a-dark-sky-preserve-at-countys-south-shore/", "https://www.cieletoilemontmegantic.org/en/reglementations", "https://anjec.org/wp-content/uploads/2026/01/New-Jersey-Model-Lighting-Ordinance-Template-for-Municipalities.pdf", "https://darksky.org/resources/guides-and-how-tos/lighting-principles/", "https://store.ies.org/product/ida-ies-mlo-11-model-lighting-ordinance-mlo-with-users-guide/", "https://darksky.org/" ] }, "jsonld": { "@context": "https://schema.org", "@graph": [ { "@type": "Organization", "@id": "https://darkskiesdirectory.com/#organization", "name": "Dark Skies Directory", "url": "https://darkskiesdirectory.com" }, { "@type": "WebSite", "@id": "https://darkskiesdirectory.com/#website", "url": "https://darkskiesdirectory.com", "name": "Dark Skies Directory", "publisher": { "@id": "https://darkskiesdirectory.com/#organization" } }, { "@type": "BreadcrumbList", "itemListElement": [ { "@type": "ListItem", "position": 1, "name": "Home", "item": "https://darkskiesdirectory.com/" }, { "@type": "ListItem", "position": 2, "name": "Articles", "item": "https://darkskiesdirectory.com/articles" }, { "@type": "ListItem", "position": 3, "name": "Dark Sky Laws by State: US Outdoor Lighting Rules", "item": "https://darkskiesdirectory.com/articles/dark-sky-laws" } ] }, { "@type": "Article", "@id": "https://darkskiesdirectory.com/articles/dark-sky-laws#article", "headline": "Dark Sky Laws by State: US Outdoor Lighting Rules", "description": "See every US state and Canadian province with a dark sky or outdoor lighting law, from Arizona's 1986 statute to Maine's 2026 act, with citations.", "image": "/images/dark-sky-laws.webp", "datePublished": "Tue Sep 22 2026 20:00:00 GMT-0400 (Eastern Daylight Time)", "dateModified": "Tue Sep 22 2026 20:00:00 GMT-0400 (Eastern Daylight Time)", "author": { "@id": "https://darkskiesdirectory.com/#organization" }, "publisher": { "@id": "https://darkskiesdirectory.com/#organization" }, "mainEntityOfPage": "https://darkskiesdirectory.com/articles/dark-sky-laws", "citation": [ null, null, null, null, null, null, null, null, null, null, null, null, null, null, null, null, null, null, null, null, null, null, null, null, null, null, null, null, null, null, null, null, null, null, null, null, null, null, null, null, null, null, null, null, null, null, null, null, null, null, null, null, null, null, null, null ] } ] } }