Light pollution

Light pollution is artificial light that causes nuisance because it interferes with the use of your home, such as preventing sleep. Nuisance is not the same as annoyance, for example security lighting briefly triggered by animals may be irritating but will rarely, if ever, be harmful.

Certain premises have high levels of light intensity for safety and security reasons. Street lighting engineers design all street lighting installations to take into account the current BS EN13201:2003 regulations.

To check if light is a statutory nuisance we consider:

• how the light impacts the use of your home
• how long the light has been an issue
• the time the light is on
• the character of the area

Find out more about how we investigate a statutory nuisance

Talk to your neighbour about the problem

Many people do not realise that their outside lights are causing a problem to their neighbours. Try to approach your neighbour about the problem and explain how the light is affecting you. Politely suggest possible solutions to the problem such as:

• making sure the light does not go beyond their property boundary
• re-angling the light, for example making sure it's not pointing directly at a bedroom window
• partially shading the light, such as using a shield or hood so that the light is directed to the area it's intended for
• fitting a sensor or timer so the light is not on all the time
• using a lower power bulb, for example switching from a 500W to a 150W will also reduce running costs

Read more advice on reducing obtrusive light on the Institute of Lighting Professionals website

Report a light nuisance 

If talking to your neighbour fails and you continue to be affected by the light, you can report the nuisance using the contact details at the bottom of this page. 

You can also find out more about what light is covered by statutory nuisance laws on GOV.UK.