Resident asks Layton to enforce exterior-lighting rules after streetlight shines into bedroom

A Layton resident told the council on July 8 that a municipal streetlight is shining into two of his bedroom windows and asked the city to enforce its exterior lighting rules so the fixture is shielded.

Ryan Andreessen addressed council during the citizen-comment period and cited Ordinance 19.6.100, “Prohibition of Undesirable Emissions,” which he quoted as requiring that “every use shall be so operated that it does not emit an excessive or dangerous degree of glare … beyond any lot on which the use is located.” Andreessen also quoted an exterior-lighting provision requiring that the light source “shall be not visible at a height of 5 feet above the ground level at any residential property line” and said the rule is intended to protect residents’ ability to sleep.

Andreessen said the streetlight’s fixture includes a diffuser that redirects light horizontally and that shielding would solve the problem at little cost and without threatening public safety. He asked councilmember Jensen why the city would “shine a light in my bedroom window when shielding would solve the problem.”

The comment was taken during citizen comment; councilmembers acknowledged the concern but no formal action or staff directive was recorded at that meeting. Andreessen said he had copied the mayor and council on earlier correspondence and framed the request as seeking a “good neighbor” standard to be applied to city operations as well as private property owners.