Lighting Regulation

The main objective of this regulation is to control emissions from outdoor lighting to prevent light pollution throughout the country. Here are its most relevant aspects.

The update to the Lighting Regulation extends its scope to all of Chile and incorporates the protection of biodiversity and human health as objects of protection, in addition to safeguarding the skies. The regulation establishes improvements for outdoor lighting such as that of streets, plazas, industries, and stadiums. By setting limits on intensity, color temperature, and operating hours, the regulation will allow for a rational, efficient, and sustainable use of artificial lighting, making the care of people and the environment compatible through the proper use of light.

This new regulation also establishes differences between the fixtures installed in special protection areas, which correspond to areas with scientific and research value for astronomy; biodiversity protection areas; and breeding zones and municipalities with a greater impact on species threatened by light pollution, as indicated in the Recovery, Conservation, and Species Management Plan (RECOGE Plan).

Learn about the protected astronomical areas

The New Lighting Regulation includes special regulations for 29 municipalities declared Areas of Scientific Value for Astronomical Observation by the Ministry of Science. These municipalities are located near astronomical observatories. Discover which ones they are:

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The modification to Law 19,300 on General Environmental Bases establishes that projects located in or near these areas must undergo Environmental Impact Assessment to demonstrate the actions they will take regarding their light pollution impact.

Frequently Asked Questions

Find answers to the most common questions related to the New Lighting Regulation and its implementation in Chile.

Unlike its predecessor, which focused on areas of astronomical development, the New Lighting Regulation covers the entire national territory and incorporates the protection of biodiversity and human health as dimensions affected by exposure to light pollution, and therefore must be protected.

This regulation governs outdoor lighting, specifically:

Pedestrian lighting: used to illuminate sidewalks, parks, gardens, and others.
Sports and recreational lighting: intended to illuminate stadiums, soccer fields, tennis or paddle courts, racetracks, among others.
Vehicle lighting: intended for the illumination of highways, roads, and urban streets.
Industrial lighting: outdoor lighting in areas where productive, extractive, or manufacturing activities take place, among others.
Ornamental and decorative lighting: designated for building facades, monuments, statues, fountains, and similar structures.
Advertising lighting: signs and billboards, including LED screens.

The New Lighting Regulation will apply throughout the territory of Chile; however, it establishes the following special protection zones, which will have higher standards:

Astronomical areas: Correspond to 29 municipalities located in the regions of Antofagasta, Atacama, and Coquimbo, which are near observatories.
Biodiversity protection areas: Includes marine parks, reserves of virgin regions, national parks, natural monuments, nature sanctuaries, forest reserves, national reserves, marine reserves, protected coastal marine areas of multiple uses, and wetlands that are part of the list of the Convention on Wetlands of International Importance (Ramsar sites), especially as habitats for waterfowl.
Species breeding zones where artificial brightness is identified as a threat: these will be delineated in a Recovery, Conservation, and Species Management Plan (RECOGE). The list of areas that meet this condition will be established annually by the Ministry of the Environment.

The regulation will come into effect on October 19, 2024; however, it considers different compliance deadlines depending on whether it is a new source or a replacement. There are also different deadlines depending on whether it is a special protection area.

Compliance deadlines for new sources:
- National territory: October 19, 2026
- Astronomical areas, biodiversity protection areas, RECOGE breeding zones, and municipalities of greater impact: October 19, 2024
Compliance deadlines for existing sources (fixture replacement):
- National territory: No deadline. At the time of replacement starting October 19, 2026
- Astronomical areas, nearby municipalities: October 19, 2029
- Astronomical areas, distant municipalities: October 19, 2024
- Biodiversity protection areas linked to species threatened by light pollution + 5 km: October 19, 2026
- Biodiversity protection areas without linkage: No deadline. At the time of replacement starting October 19, 2024
- RECOGE breeding zones + municipalities of greater impact: October 19, 2026
Time restrictions
- For advertising, ornamental, and sports facility lighting (new and existing sources): October 19, 2024