Renovating street lighting: process, costs, funding

Key facts in brief: Municipalities can obtain funding for retrofitting outdoor and street lighting under the federal Kommunalrichtlinie: generally a 25 % grant, 40 % for financially weak municipalities, with a minimum grant of €10,000 per application. Prerequisites are a greenhouse gas saving of at least 50 % and time- or presence-dependent control. According to the Federal Environment Ministry, applications are possible until 31.12.2027 (as of November 2026).

Six-step process

Survey: luminaire register, poles, luminaire types, power, switching times, condition.
Categorisation: assignment of roads to lighting classes according to DIN 13201-1.
Concept and lighting calculation: luminaire types, colour temperature, dimming profiles, proof according to EN 13201.
Economic viability and GHG balance: energy and CO₂ savings, payback – also the basis for the funding application.
Funding application and tender: manufacturer-neutral, evaluated on economic efficiency rather than price alone.
Implementation and acceptance: site supervision, spot-check measurements, documentation.

Funding through the German Kommunalrichtlinie

The German federal Kommunalrichtlinie (project management: ZUG gGmbH) funds, as investment-based climate protection measures, outdoor and street lighting as well as indoor and hall lighting with non-repayable grants; the application deadline is 31 December 2027 ^[1].

Funding area	Funding rate	Financially weak municipalities and lignite regions
Outdoor and street lighting	25 %	40 %
Indoor and hall lighting	25 %	40 %

The eligible expenditure must result in a minimum grant of €10,000 per application ^[2]. Funding covers system components with control technology that enables zone-based, time-dependent or presence-dependent lighting; a prerequisite is proof of greenhouse gas savings of at least 50 % ^[3]. In this way, the town of Rodgau converted around 1,000 luminaires with 25 % funding in 2026 ^[3].

In addition to the greenhouse gas saving, it must be shown that the investment pays back within an economic period; on roads, zone-based and time- or presence-dependent control must be installed, and on squares and sports facilities a use-appropriate control, for example with separate levels for training and competition ^[5]. Adaptive control that adjusts dynamically to the weather and actual traffic density is also eligible ^[5].

What is funded – and what is not

Mandatory: control technology, on roads zone-based and time- or presence-dependent ^[5]
Eligible: adaptive control at the normal funding rates and a photometric measurement ^[5]
Not eligible: a pure lamp replacement (retrofit) ^[5]
Special case of listed monuments: conversion kits instead of complete replacement are permitted ^[5]
Lignite regions: increased funding rate of 40 %, assignment via postcode, to be requested in the application ^[5]

Application procedure

The greenhouse gas saving is demonstrated using the calculation forms in KRL-Online. Since 1 June 2026, applications have been submitted exclusively digitally via easy-Online and confirmed by TAN or qualified electronic signature; applications are possible all year round until 31.12.2027 ^[5].

Information as of: November 2026. Funding conditions change; before every application we check the currently valid version of the guideline and any state programmes.

What determines the costs

Replacing luminaire heads or complete renovation including poles and cables
Type of control (time profile, presence detection, remote monitoring)
Condition of the poles (structural stability) and cable networks
Scope of design and tendering

Costs per lighting point vary widely; reliable figures only come from the survey.

Include insect protection from the start

Shielded LED luminaires with a low colour temperature (warm white or amber) are recommended for municipal retrofits; in Baden-Württemberg there is already an obligation to convert and retrofit public lighting by 2030 ^[4].

Frequently asked questions

When should we start planning?

As early as possible, because the survey, GHG balance and application take time and work may generally only begin after approval.

Do you handle the funding application?

We prepare the technical documents and the GHG calculation and support you with the application.

Is a pure lamp replacement eligible?

No. A pure lamp replacement (retrofit) is not funded, and control technology is mandatory.

Sources (in German)

Author: Paul Rostand Ndjeundoun, M.Sc. (Hons), Certified Lighting Expert (LiTG), Registered European Lighting Expert · As of November 2026. Standard values have been carefully researched but do not replace consulting the currently valid edition of the standard.