Night lighting of advertisements, signs and professional buildings

Verified 01 June 2023 - Legal and Administrative Information Directorate (Prime Minister), Ministry of the Environment

In order to reduce nuisance, night lighting illuminated advertisements, signs or pre-signs as well as commercial showcases is regulated. This lighting obeys extinguishing times precise.

The extinction times to be respected vary depending on the type of device (advertising, pre-sign, sign, showcase or interior lighting).

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Light Advertising

An advertisement matches any inscription, form or image intended to inform the public or to attract its attention. A sign or pre-sign does not constitute advertising.

Advertising is said luminous when a light source specially provided for this purpose participates in its production. Light advertising includes the digital advertising broadcast on screens that can display still images, moving images, and video.

On the other hand, light advertising does not include the posters illuminated by projection or transparency, that is, enlightened from the outside by means of lights, bulbs or ramps, or from the inside by means of neon tubes (light box, window panels, etc.).

The light advertising shall be off between 1:00 and 6:00 in the morning.

FYI  

As of October 7, 2022, this extinguishment rule applies all over France (the size of the agglomeration is no longer taken into account).

In case of serious and imminent threat to security of supply in electricity, all digital advertisements and advertisements with remotely controllable operation or lighting shall be off or on standby. The information shall be communicated by the operator of the public electricity transmission system no later than the day before the day in question.

Luminous pre-sign

A pre-sign corresponds to any inscription, shape or image indicating the proximity to an establishment where an activity takes place determined. It includes, most often, a symbol (e.g. arrow) or a distance which indicates the geographical location of the establishment.

The pre-sign is called luminous when a light source specially provided for this purpose participates in its production.

The luminous pre-signs must be extinguished between 1 a.m. and 6 a.m.

FYI  

As of October 7, 2022, this extinguishment rule applies all over France (the size of the agglomeration is no longer taken into account).

Bright sign

A sign corresponds to any inscription, shape or image affixed to a building relating to an activity carried on there.

The sign is said luminous when a light source specially provided for this purpose participates in its production.

Illuminated signs shall be extinct between 1:00 a.m. and 6:00 a.m. when the reported activity has ceased.

If the activity ceases between midnight and 7 a.m., the light sign can be turned off 1 hour after activity ends. And if the activity starts between midnight and 7 a.m., the light sign can be turned on 1 hour before activity starts.

Please note

The mayor and prefect may, for exceptional events, allow illuminated signs to remain lit.

The flashing signs are forbidden, with the exception of signs at pharmacies or other emergency services.

Store or exhibition showcase

Store or exhibition windows must be switched off at the latest 1 am or 1 hour after cessation of activity (if later).

Windows can be relit from 7 am or 1 hour before activity starts (if starting earlier).

Indoor lighting in business premises

The interior lighting of the business premises must be switched off at the latest 1 hour after their occupation ends. Account shall be taken of the occupation connected with office cleaning operations, supplying stores, maintenance of premises, etc.

Lighting can be turned back on from 7 am or 1 hour before activity starts (if starting earlier).

Please note

The Prefect may decide to adapt these rules more restrictively to protect the fauna and flora sensitive to this light.

The obligation to extinguish at night does not apply in the following cases:

  • Light (including digital) advertisements settled in the perimeter of airports
  • Light advertisements supported by street furniture used for transport services (e.g. bus shelters) and during the hours of operation of such services
  • Digital advertisements (provided they are still images) supported by street furniture used for transport services and during the hours of operation of those services.

The mayor may also decide to suspend the night-time extinguishing rules day before 1er May and during the Christmas lights.

When a company does not respect the extinction times, the mayor asks him by registered letter to comply with the law in a 5-day period.

If the company maintains night lighting beyond this period, it must pay a penalty payment of €200 per day per device (advertising, sign, showcase, etc.).

At the criminal level, the company also faces a fine of €1,500.

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