As Christmas approaches and December gets underway, for many households it’s time to get the decorations down to cover the house in tinsel and sparkling Christmas lights.
But for some, if you are planning to decorate the exterior of your property with outdoor lights, Santa sleighs or reindeers on your roof, there are a couple of laws you should take into consideration.
Although Christmas lights can add a festive feel to your neighbourhood, you must make sure that your festive display is the right side of the law – to avoid upsetting any neighbours, drivers or passersby.
Below we breakdown some of laws you should take into consideration when decorating your property.
Part III of the Environmental Protection Act 1990
Part III of the Environmental Protection states that local authorities are obliged to investigate complaints about light nuisance.
They will consider whether artificial light from a property unreasonably and substantially interferes with the use or enjoyment of a home or other premises, injures health or is likely to injure health. They will also address concerns about the safety of the lights, disruptions to neighbouring households, and excessive noise.
If a complaint is upheld, the defendant could be forced to remove the lights and receive a hefty fine.
Licence to attach lights to a public lamp post
Legally, you must gain a licence which will permit you to attach items to a streetlight such as a lamp post. You cannot do so without this licence.
The local authority will approve a licence when it is satisfied that your Christmas lights do not pose a risk to the safety of the public, or other highway equipment such as traffic signals. They will also check that any structures are strong enough to safely support your lights.
Christmas lights – 4 steps to keep on the right side of the law
- Speak to your neighbours and those living close by before you install a bright outdoor display and consider any concerns they have about light nuisance.
- Consider using lights that have a timer – to switch off switch bright lights at a reasonable hour.
- Choose adjustable lighting options to control intensity, can they be dimmer at certain times of night?
- Always check with your local council for any specific regulations or permits required
Further reading
Purchases – Oakwood Property Solicitors
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