Night lighting of bright advertisements, bright pre-signs and bright signs
Verified 18 June 2026 - Entreprendre Service Public / (Prime Minister), Ministry for the Environment
In order to reduce nuisance, night lighting bright advertisements, bright pre-signs and bright signs is regulated. This lighting obeys shutdown times precise.
The extinction times to be respected vary depending on the type of device :
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Advertising or Light Sign
The light advertising is an advertisement informed by a light source specially provided for this purpose. The light source may be based on neon, LEDs, light-emitting diodes, etc.
Light advertising is divided into 3 categories:
- the advertising supporting posters illuminated by projection or transparency. These devices must comply with the rules of the non-luminous advertising.
- the luminous advertising other than that supporting posters illuminated by projection or transparency.
- the digital advertising broadcast on screens that can display still images, moving images and videos. This is a sub-category of the previous one, specific rules apply to this case.
Please note
The regulation of luminous advertising also applies to luminous pre-signs.
The light advertising shall be switched off between 1 am and 6 am on the whole national territory.
Provisions relating to advertising for pre-signs (paragraph 1)
Bright advertisements (shutdown times)
Bright sign
Any inscription, shape or image affixed to a building relating to an activity carried out there having a light source that can be illuminated by projection or transparency, digital screen or any other luminous device.
A luminous sign corresponds to any inscription, shape or image affixed to a building relating to an activity carried on there.
The sign is said bright when a light source, specially provided for this purpose.
Bright signs must be switched off between 1 am and 6 am when the reported activity has ceased.
If the activity stops between midnight and 7 a.m., the light sign can be turned off 1 hour after the activity ends. And if the activity starts between midnight and 7 a.m., the light sign can be lit 1 hour before the activity starts.
The flashing signs are forbidden, with the exception of pharmacy signs or any other emergency service.
Bright sign (off time)
General exemptions
The obligation to extinguish at night does not apply to bright advertisements following:
- which are supported by the street furniture assigned to transport services and during the service's operating hours. The digital ads must be still image.
- which are installed in theright-of-way airports
- which are installed in theright-of-way markets of national interest (MIN).
Whether it's for bright advertisements, bright pre-signs or bright signs, it may also be decided to suspend the night-time extinction rules at of exceptional events defined by municipal or prefectural decree.
Provisions relating to advertising for pre-signs (paragraph 1)
Illuminated advertisements derogations from the hours of extinctions
Illuminated signs derogations from fire-extinguishing times (paragraph 5)
Derogation in case of serious and imminent threat to security of supply
In case of serious and imminent threat to the security of electricity supply, the Minister responsible for energy may prohibit:
- any light advertising
- any advertising supporting posters illuminated by projection or transparency
- all digital advertising in and outside urban areas
- or any advertisements located inside a premises when their location makes them visible from the public highway.
The operation or lighting is remotely controllable.
This prohibition may extend to roads open to public traffic as well as airports, railway and bus stations and stations and stops of public transport.
Please note
The regulation of luminous advertising also applies to luminous pre-signs.
Derogation in case of serious and imminent threat to security of supply
Provisions relating to advertising for pre-signs (paragraph 1)
Clarification of the derogation in case of serious and imminent security of supply threat
Derogation to extend night-time extinction times in an RLP
The mayor or a EPCI: titleContent can decide via their RLP: titleContent of stricter night-time extinction rules those resulting from national regulations (between 1 am and 6 am) for bright advertisements, the luminous pre-signs and the illuminated signs.
The authors of the RLP: titleContent may determine different extinction ranges depending on the area or the time of year.
To learn more about the Local Advertising Regulation (LPR) you can consult the sheet dedicated to this subject.
Possibility of more restrictive regulation in an RLP than in the national regulation (paragraph 2)
Administrative penalties
In case of failure to comply with the extinguishment obligation from bright advertising, bright pre-signs and bright signs, the mayor can take a formal notice ordering, in 5 days, from the notification of the order by registered letter with acknowledgement of receipt:
- the removal of the relevant light advertisements and light signs
- or compliance with those provisions, with the light advertisements and the light signs in question (for example: provide a system to turn off the device at off-time)
- or the restoration of the premises.
If the company keeps its night lighting beyond this period, it will then have to pay a penalty payment of €200 per day and per device.
Criminal sanctions
The affixing, causing to be affixed or maintaining after formal notice, an advertisement or a luminous sign without respecting the extinction times is punishable by fine from €1,500 (natural person) and €7,500 (legal person).
Failure to comply with the prohibition on the emission of any luminous advertisement, any advertisement supporting illuminated posters by projection or transparency or any digital advertisement in the event of a serious and imminent threat to security of supply shall also be punishable by fine from €1,500 (natural person) and €7,500 (legal person).
The criminal liability of legal persons and that of their directors may be cumulated for the same acts. For example, a company as a natural person may be subject to personal criminal liability, even if he or she has already been convicted of the same acts.
A legal person may only be fined. The amount of the fine shall be multiplied by 5 compared to that provided for natural persons.
One individual business (EI) since it does not have a legal personality, only the manager is liable to criminal sanctions.
Formal notice in case of failure to comply with the obligation to extinguish
Administrative fine amount
Penalty for failure to comply with the prohibition due to a serious and imminent threat to security of supply
Criminal penalty for failure to extinguish at night
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Derogation in case of serious and imminent threat to security of supply
Possibility of more restrictive regulation in an RLP than in the national regulation (paragraph 2)
Formal notice in case of failure to comply with the obligation to extinguish
Amount of the administrative fine
Penalty for failure to comply with the prohibition due to a serious and imminent threat to security of supply
Light advertisements (schedules and exceptions)
Bright signs (hours and exceptions)
Criminal penalty for failure to extinguish at night
Prevention of light pollution
Clarification of the derogation in case of serious and imminent security of supply threat