It's Christmas and most streets across the country will have at least one home decked to the nines with flashing lights, twinkling trees and inflatable snowmen.

But at what point does a display become just that bit too much?

Law states that councils must look into complaints about artificial light from premises if the light could be classed as a 'statutory nuisance'.

What is a statutory nuisance?

For the artificial light to count as a statutory nuisance it must do one of the following:

  • injure health or be likely to injure health

Natural light is not covered by statutory nuisance laws.

If you do like lights check out our map:

What can cause artificial light nuisances

The following can cause an artificial light nuisance if they’re not maintained or used properly:

  • security lights (domestic and commercial)
  • sports facilities (like floodlit football pitches)
  • decorative lighting of buildings or landscapes
  • laser shows and light art

How artificial light nuisances are assessed

When looking into complaints about potential light nuisances, councils can assess one or more of the following:

  • whether it interferes with the use of a property
  • whether it may affect health
  • how it’s likely to affect the average person (unusual sensitivities aren’t included)
  • how often it happens
  • how long it lasts
  • when it happens
  • whether it’s in the town or country

There are no set levels for light to be considered a statutory nuisance.



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