Lichtensteig is a municipality in the Wahlkreis (constituency) of Toggenburg in the canton of St. Gallen in Switzerland.

The mayor (Schultheiss) was appointed by the land lord from a list of candidates compiled by the burghers.

After the acquisition of the Toggenburg by the Abbey of St. Gallen in 1468, Lichtensteig became the seat of the abbot's reeve.

Lichtensteig's importance as market town increased in the 19th century with the development of the textile home working industry in the Toggenburg.

A town seal with the letter L on the left (dexter) side and a branch ornament on the right (sinister) was in use in the 17th and 18th centuries.

These elements were combined into the modern municipal coat of arms in 1946, blazoned Per pale gules and sable, overall a letter L or.

It is downstream of Wattwil, and upstream of Dietfurt (Bütschwil municipality), and on the western site of the Wasserfluh Pass.

It is 35.7% of the area used for agricultural purposes, 44.6% is forested, and 18.2% is built up, the remainder (1.4%) being accounted for by bodies of water.

Of the foreign population, (as of 2000[update]), 31 are from Germany, 82 are from Italy, 113 are from ex-Yugoslavia, 13 are from Austria, 43 are from Turkey, and 91 are from another country.

[9] The historical population is given in the following table:[4] The Old Town Council building at Hintergasse 22 is listed as a Swiss heritage site of national significance.

[10] The entire village of Lichtensteig is designated as part of the Inventory of Swiss Heritage Sites.