Andorra la Vella Suspends Illuminated Sign Permits to Curb Light Pollution

Andorra la Vella's local council has suspended new permits for illuminated signs and screens in public spaces while it reviews and updates outdoor advertising regulations to address rising light pollution and improve urban quality.

The Comú d'Andorra la Vella approved the temporary moratorium amid a steady increase in such displays over recent years. This step supports a detailed field survey cataloguing all existing installations—their types, sizes, technical features like light intensity, administrative status, and compatibility with business hours.

The assessment will evaluate effects on residents, pedestrians, road traffic, and the broader urban environment. It forms the basis for revising the outdoor advertising ordinance approved on 19 December 2012, with clearer rules on placement, dimensions, visibility from public areas, and operational conditions.

Councillor for Procedures, Taxes and Debtors Susagna Mosquera said the council seeks more precise oversight of these installations to enhance public spaces without undermining commercial activity. Communal sources described the suspension as a preventive measure to avoid approving setups that might not align with forthcoming standards.

The halt remains in effect until the review wraps up and new criteria take hold, at which point permits will resume under the updated rules. Officials stressed the approach balances economic needs, road safety, and neighbourhood well-being in line with the parish's evolving context.