Businesses: turn off your illuminated signs at night and close your doors!

Two new obligations, accompanied by sanctions, are now imposed on businesses.

Switching off advertisements and illuminated signs at night

In cities with fewer than 800,000 inhabitants, it has already been forbidden for years to illuminate advertisements and signs on at night between 1 a.m. and 6 a.m., apart from those installed in airports and those supported by street furniture if their images are fixed. In municipalities with more than 800,000 inhabitants, extinction rules are laid down in a local advertising regulation.

Since 7 October, all municipalities must abide by these rules.

And as of June 1st, 2023, only advertisements and illuminated signs installed in airports and those supported by street furniture assigned to transport services and during the operating hours of these services will be authorized at night between 1 a.m. and 6 a.m.

Attention: The trader who does not respect this prohibition measure after receiving a formal notice would commit a fifth category contravention punishable by a fine of up to €1,500 (instead of €750 previously).

Closing the doors of heated or air-conditioned rooms

Another obligation that has just been enacted: operators of premises in which commercial or non-commercial tertiary activities are conducted, i.e., shops and offices, must henceforth keep their exterior doors closed, including during opening hours, when these premises are heated or cooled using air conditioning.

In addition, these spaces must be equipped with manual or automatic closing systems limiting heat loss.

However, this measure does not prohibit the ventilation of the premises when the renewal of indoor air is necessary for health reasons.

Attention: Here too, sanctions are provided for in the event of non-compliance with this prohibition, namely an administrative fine, up to €750, pronounced by the mayor of the municipality concerned after a formal notice remained ineffective.