The Holladay City Council approved a new city code relating to residential outdoor lighting standards. In response to feedback and concern from residents, the mayor, council and city staff amended the code to address lighting trespass and nuisance lighting in new residential construction and major home remodeling projects. 

Considered a form of light pollution, light trespass occurs when artificial light from one home spills over into a neighboring residence in a way that is disruptive. Nuisance lighting typically includes issues such as excessive glare, over-illumination, or light disruption that can interfere with sleep, the night sky or wildlife behavior. 

While councilmembers understood the need for some lighting regulation, it was not their intent to limit creativity when it comes to residential outdoor lighting.

“We’re just addressing the specific problems, like trespass and where there’s nuisance,” said Councilmember Paul Fotheringham. “Otherwise, people can be as creative or have as much bad taste as they want. We’re not going to regulate that, but rather just deal with the problems that involve unfriendliness, or rather, inattention to the concerns of neighbors that changes the character of a street.”

After much deliberation, discussion and a public hearing, the council unanimously adopted the new standards into the city code on Aug. 7, which immediately put the changes into place. 

Councilmembers didn’t want to pigeonhole property owners into strict guidelines and they didn’t want homeowners to be required to work with a lighting professional, which can add higher costs to building. At the same time, the council didn’t want to ignore the concerns of the residents. 

“This was our compromise to see if we can put something in place that tries to accomplish the goal of what we think our residents want, but not have it be so stringent that it extends and makes the process of building a home more expensive,” said Mayor Rob Dahle. “But it does give our staff the tools to say, ‘Look, you need to make sure you comply here, here and here, out of respect for your neighbors in the community.’ So I think it landed in a good spot.”

The new code does not apply to indoor lighting; seasonal light displays (as long as it’s not considered a hazard or nuisance); temporary lighting for celebrations, events and festivals; temporary construction lighting; regulated signage; or traffic control warnings, signals and devices. 

Some prohibited items include the encroachment of excessive light, laser lighting, searchlights and neon or fluorescent tubes. 

“This ordinance consolidates all the existing lighting standards into one new chapter, which is now known as 13.84,” said Holladay Community and Economic Development Director Jon Teerlink. “Because the technology of lighting changes so often, having a strict set of provisions in the code holds property owners’ feet to the fire on specific lighting technology. As that technology changes, those new elements can be brought to the staff as a proposal.”