Residents kept awake by neon advertisements and bright landscape lighting should soon be able to enjoy a good night’s sleep.
Legislation is being drawn up that will limit the hours these lights can be switched on and allow for those inappropriately placed to be removed.
Visual impact and energy-saving are being prioritized as the city’s greenery bureau seeks more effective management of decorative lighting, said officials.
Standards detailing lighting up times will be available in the coming months. The new law is due to come into effect later this year.
Currently, a lack of a clear regulations has made it difficult for the watchdog to intervene in disputes over decorative lights.
Zhu Zhiyu, a representative of concerned residents and a local political advisor, has proposed that the lights must be turned off before midnight, backed by fines.
The law will also grant the watchdog powers to order the removal of lights that are inappropriately positioned, said officials.
Officials said they are currently combing through complaints about landscape lighting.
Meanwhile, the watchdog said new light installation and renovation projects will not be licensed unless they meet energy-saving product criteria.
