New Mexico Night Sky Protection Act Lighting Rules

The Night Sky Protection Act (NMSA 74-12-1 to 74-12-11) requires most outdoor lighting fixtures installed after July 1, 2019 to be shielded so light is directed below the horizontal plane, with narrow exceptions for low-lumen incandescent fixtures angled downward and other specified uses. The Act applies statewide and is enforced through the building permit process, by the Construction Industries Division for state buildings and by each political subdivision within its jurisdiction. A first violation draws a warning; a second violation, or one continuing 30 days after the warning, is $500 for each offending fixture.

A first violation is a warning; a second violation, or one continuing 30 days after the warning, is $500 for each offending fixture. Non-compliant fixtures must be retrofitted, and permits may be denied for non-conforming installations.