Legislation / Ordinances / Monitoring

Legislation and ordinances can be an important tool to help to preserve dark skies. New Mexico was a pioneer in passing the statewide Night Sky Protection Act (NSPA) in 1999. However, light pollution in New Mexico has continued to increase. New Mexico DarkSky is committed to trying to improve the NSPA, and to assist in efforts to establish stronger ordinances at more local levels.

Goals

• Update the NM Night Sky Protection Act!
• Establish stronger local ordinances around the state

Resources

• link to NM Night Sky Protection Act (and pdf)
• list of links to various ordinances in NM, compliled by Galen Gisler
• link to external site with links to NM ordinances
• National Conference of State Legislatures listing of state ordinances on light pollution
• Salt Lake City Street Lighting Master Plan
• DarkSky Model Lighting Ordinance: NOTE this old, new templates for state and local ordinances are expected 2024
• General Code: dark sky preservation