MODEL LIGHTING ORDINANCE
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International Dark-Sky Association |
Model Lighting Ordinance Released to Promote Responsible Outdoor Lighting
IDA and the Illuminating Engineering Society (IES) proudly announce public release of the Model Lighting Ordinance (MLO) as a valuable guide for environmentally responsible outdoor lighting in North America. Developed jointly by the IDA and the IES over a period of seven years, the IDA/IES partnership will encourage broad adoption of comprehensive outdoor lighting ordinances without devoting extensive staff time and resources to their development.
The MLO outdoor lighting template is designed to help municipalities develop outdoor lighting standards that reduce glare, light trespass, and skyglow. The MLO offers several innovations to outdoor lighting regulation, including the use of five lighting zones to classify land use with appropriate lighting levels for each. Zones range from LZ0, designed for pristine natural environments andlimited outdoor lighting, to LZ4, for limited application in areas of extensive development in the largest cities. The second innovation limits the amount of light used for each property. Third, the MLO uses the IES’s new TM-15 -11 "BUG" (Backlight, Uplight and Glare) classification of outdoor lighting fixtures to ensure that only well-shielded fixtures are used. No uplight for area and street lighting is allowed in any zone. The MLO will be revised on a regular basis to include new information, feedback from municipalities using it and changes to IES standards.
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About the Model Lighting Ordinance The International Dark-Sky Association (IDA) and the Illuminating Engineering Society of North America (IESNA) have developed the Model Lighting Ordinance (MLO) to address the need for strong, consistent outdoor lighting regulation. Please download and distribute. Download Model Lighting Ordinance Approved June 14, 2011 IDA/IES Statement on January 30, 2012 MLO Revision Règlement Type sur l’Éclairage Extérieur (Français) Translation provided by IDA Quebec
Revision History After the first public review (2009), the MLO was revised as follows:
Addressing comments after the second public review (2010), the MLO was revised as follows:
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Model Lighting Ordinance Comments & Revisions The following documents contain comments and changes to MLO Draft II. The left side of the document contains original MLO text. The right side shows public comments. Responses and revisions appear in red. Section III - General Requirements Section VI - Lighting by Special Permit - User Guide Section VI - Lighting by Special Permit - Ordinance Text Section VII - Existing Lighting |
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An MLO presentation by IDA board member, Jim Benya, PE, FIES, IALD, LC
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New Resource! An open letter by IDA Executive Director Bob Parks and IDA co-founders Dt. David Crawford and Dr. Tim Hunter discusses how the collaborative process has been a successful model for past IDA triumphs. Read letter >>
MLO Seminars |
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To better inform the public on the mechanics of the MLO, IDA is offering a series of Webinar educational sessions. The first such Webinar, streamed live from the 2010 Annual General Meeting in Tucson, AZ, is available at the link below. |
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Further Resources
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