Germany

The amendments adopted in 2021 introduced measures to address light pollution, mainly with regard to the protection of insects, such as the prevention of light sources from becoming insect traps in the future.

Section §21 regulates lighting systems, advertising systems, and sky spotlights with a focus on protecting insect fauna and preventing light pollution in outdoor areas. Key provisions include restrictions on illuminating building facades during specific hours, requirements for insect-friendly lighting on public streets, paths, and squares, and a ban on outdoor advertising systems. Exceptions are granted for specific cases, such as advertising at events, signposts, and certain agricultural advertising systems, subject to approval from the nature conservation authority. The highest nature conservation authority is empowered to establish detailed regulations regarding the impact of outdoor lighting systems on wildlife and the permissibility of illuminated advertising systems in outdoor areas.

Section § 4 - Protection of living beings from lighting:
This section emphasizes the need to avoid light emissions to support the undisturbed alternation of activity and rest phases for diurnal and nocturnal species, in addition to provisions in the Federal Nature Conservation Act.

Section § 35 aims to protect light-sensitive species by advocating the avoidance of unnecessary artificial light, especially outdoor lighting that exceeds required levels or lacks a clear purpose. The measures include exemptions for horticultural production, regulations for designing lighting systems on public streets, and prohibitions on sky spotlights and illuminated advertising during specific hours. Municipalities have the authority to enact statutes regulating the environmental effects of light, and efforts are encouraged for insect-friendly designs in outdoor and built-up areas, with penalties for non-compliance.

Art.11a Sky spotlights and lighting systems
1 Interference with the insect fauna through artificial lighting in outdoor areas must be avoided. 2 Sky spotlights and devices with similar effects are not permitted. 3 When setting up lighting systems outdoors, the effects on the insect fauna, in particular their impairment and damage, must be checked and the objectives of species protection must be taken into account. 4 Lighting in the immediate vicinity of protected landscape components and biotopes must only be approved by the responsible authority or with their consent in exceptional cases.

Article 9. Avoidable light emissions: After 11 p.m. and until dawn, it is prohibited to illuminate the facades of public buildings unless this is necessary for reasons of public safety or prescribed by or on the basis of legal regulations. Illuminated or light-emitting advertising systems are prohibited in outdoor areas. The municipality can allow exceptions to sentence 1 until 11 p.m. at the latest. Restaurants and commercial establishments that are permissibly established at the site of the service, provided that there is a significant need for this in consideration of the requirement to avoid emissions.