# Dark Sky Law: Maine

Maine's 2026 law, effective October 1, 2026, caps new or replaced public outdoor lighting at 3000 Kelvin, requires full shielding above 1,000 lumens, limits brightness to 125 percent of national lighting standards, and requires nonessential lighting to switch off between 10pm and sunrise. It applies to public entities now, and requires municipalities to extend similar rules to private property by December 31, 2028.

**Status:** statewide-law (checked 2026-09-23)
Maine's 2026 law, effective October 1, 2026, caps new or replaced public outdoor lighting at 3000 Kelvin, requires full shielding above 1,000 lumens, limits brightness to 125 percent of national lighting standards, and requires nonessential lighting to switch off between 10pm and sunrise. It applies to public entities now, and requires municipalities to extend similar rules to private property by December 31, 2028.

## Statutes
- [An Act to Promote Responsible Outdoor Lighting](https://www.accessfixtures.com/maine-responsible-outdoor-lighting-act/), LD 1934 / H.P. 1295 (2026)
- [Outdoor lighting (state buildings)](https://legislature.maine.gov/statutes/5/title5sec1769.html), Me. Rev. Stat. tit. 5, § 1769 (undefined)
- [Certain lights prohibited along highways](https://legislature.maine.gov/statutes/17/title17sec2793.html), Me. Rev. Stat. tit. 17, § 2793 (undefined)

## Sources
- https://www.accessfixtures.com/maine-responsible-outdoor-lighting-act/
- https://legislature.maine.gov/statutes/5/title5sec1769.html
- https://legislature.maine.gov/statutes/17/title17sec2793.html

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Canonical: https://darkskiesdirectory.com/laws/ME