International Dark-Sky Association

The Nightscape Authority

Model Lighting Ordinance Public Review Session Closed

The Public Comments have been posted.  Read them here.

Update: MLO Committee to meet August 15 & 16 to review and submit responses to the Public Comments.  

Thank you for contributing your insights to this draft lighting legislation. Your feedback will help shape the final version of this document. Updates on the status of the MLO will be posted as they develop. 

Skip ahead to the Forms:

NOTE: This is NOT the final draft of the MLO!  The IDA/IESNA Board approval of the MLO is the approval of its release for public review only, not for adoption.  All public comments will be accepted, however, they must follow the  guidelines set forth in the application documents.  The Task Force is following ANSI (American National Standards Institute) standards for review.  This means that all comments will be responded to and taken into account for the final revision.  Discussions are in place for frequent revisions after the MLO's adoption.

Original Release:

After more than three years of work, the IDA/IES Joint Task Force has completed its work and approved the long-awaited Model Lighting Ordinance (MLO) for review and public comment through the parent organizations, the International Dark Sky Association (IDA) and the Illuminating Engineering Society (IES).

Among the breakthroughs of the MLO include:

• A single ordinance that can be used in every community with little or no community-specific language through the use of five (5) Lighting Zones of differing stringencies that tailor the MLO to address local needs and preferences
• A prescriptive system for regulating most common lighting installations using a new rating system called BUG (Backlight-Uplight-Glare) that prevents excessive lighting and permits easy plan review and field inspection: Read the BUG system here.
• A computer analysis option for complex lighting installations applies the latest research findings with respect to glare, skyglow, and light trespass and restricts designs to appropriate limits of off-site impact

The MLO is written in code language to permit easy adoption into community codes and bylaws. In addition, the MLO is consistent with the California Title 24 outdoor lighting energy code, the next generation of the IES’ Recommended Practice for Outdoor Environmental Lighting, and the next generation of ASHRAE/IES 90.1 and IECC energy codes. It is being submitted to the US Green Buildings Council (USGBC) to be used for the LEED system Sustainable Sites Light Pollution Reduction Credit.

Read the full Press Release here >>

Public Review is Now CLOSED!

Questions regarding the MLO should be made to:
ida@darksky.org with the subject line: MLO Question
Fax: +1 520.293.3192
   

Forms:

• Model Lighting Ordinance for Public Review and Comment as of February 9, 2009.  ****This version is considered at 60% completion and is not intended for adoption.****  Review comments will be carefully considered for changes and final inclusion in the MLO.  It has been made available to the public due to increased visibility from various Federal projects.
• Read the BUG (backlight-uplight-glare) rating system
• Read the IDA Specifier Bulletin about the BUG system along with some Frequently Asked Questions.