Summit County residents navigate new Dark Sky rules for holiday lights

A house with Christmas lights Photo: Gautam Krishnan // UnSplash

PARK CITY, Utah — The holiday season is here, and Summit County residents are navigating their first time decorating for Christmas under the county’s new Dark Sky Ordinance, enacted in December 2024. The ordinance requires all outdoor lighting to be fully shielded, down-directed, and 3,000 Kelvin or less to reduce glare and protect night skies. Though, there are seasonal exceptions for holiday lighting.

In unincorporated Summit County, seasonal lights are permitted Nov. 15 to March 1, provided they do not create dangerous glare on nearby properties. Residents are encouraged to turn off lights by 11 p.m. and close indoor blinds by 10 p.m. to limit impacts on migratory birds.

For those in the 84060 zip code, holiday lights can be turned on beginning Nov. 1, with the same March 1 end date. Lights should not spill beyond the property or interfere with neighbors’ enjoyment, and residential displays must be turned off by 11 p.m.

Commercial properties along Main Street and in the General Commercial Zoning District may outline buildings with seasonal lighting year-round, but lights must be turned off by 2:30 a.m.

Read more about the Summit County Dark Skies Initiative.

Code enforcement officers respond case-by-case to resident complaints, rather than patrolling neighborhoods.

Utah is home to 23 accredited International Dark-Sky Association places, one of the highest concentrations in the world, according to the International Dark Sky Association.