Rhode Island Outdoor Lighting Control Act for State Projects

The Rhode Island Outdoor Lighting Control Act, RIGL 42-136, establishes statewide standards for permanent outdoor lighting installed or replaced by state agencies or with state funds. New or replacement luminaires above 3,200 lumens may emit no more than two percent of total lumens above the horizontal plane, effectively requiring fully shielded fixtures. The act also directs that highway lighting prefer reflectorized markers and signs except at intersections, with energy conservation, glare reduction, and dark-sky preservation as priorities. Findings within the chapter recognize light pollution as a real harm to night skies and ecosystems. Although it directly binds state agencies, it sets the statewide policy framework that municipalities often mirror.

No criminal penalty. Non-compliant state-funded installations can be required to retrofit. State purchasing and project approval processes are intended to enforce compliance prospectively.