Lake Charles Cracks Down On Outdoor Lighting

(KMDL-FM) No, we are not besmirching the good name and intelligence of the people of Lake Charles. The "bright" we are referring to has to do with actual lighting in and around the city.

The city council took action on what some around town had deemed disruptive lighting, mainly from commercial ventures and those who have excessive outdoor lighting.

black and gray camera with stand

The issue with the lighting stems from complaints from residents that some businesses are using too much light as a way to grab attention when the sun goes down. Okay, maybe it's not the excessive lighting but more about how or where the lights are pointed.

What Prompted the New Lake Charles Lighting Ordinance?

I am sure almost all of us can point to a road or street where we drive on a daily basis where our visibility is compromised because of lights that aren't pointed in the best possible direction.

white window blinds on window

The new ordinance adopted by the Lake Charles City Council would require that all lighting be properly installed and installed in such a way that the beams of light are directed on to the property in which the illumination was supposed to be illuminated. It makes sense.

Lake Charles Lighting Ordinance Limits How Bright and How High Lights Can Be

In addition to the directional aspect, the new ordinance also addresses how bright the lights can be and how high on a pole they can lawfully be installed. We should also note that this ordinance applies to all new outdoor lighting installations.

The Lake Charles ordinance is patterned after a similar one that was passed in 2020 in Baton Rouge. Again, the purpose of the ordinance is not to dim the lights around the city; the purpose is to make sure the lights are lighting their intended targets and not blinding the eyes of drivers or streaming into residences.

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If you have questions or concerns about the new ordinance and how it might affect your property or business, contact your Lake Charles City Council Representative; they should be able to answer your questions or point you in the direction of a city official who can.