Pitkin County passes first reading of new lighting code aimed at preserving night skies; dark‑sky advocates, neighbors weigh in

Pitkin County commissioners passed first reading of a comprehensive rewrite of the county—s outdoor lighting rules on Dec. 18, 2025, moving the proposal to a Jan. 22, 2026 public hearing. Staff presented a compact, numeric code that creates three lighting zones, lumen limits for residential and nonresidential lighting, a nighttime curfew and a five‑year phase‑in for nonconforming fixtures. The rewrite was developed with a lighting consultant and dark‑sky advocates and is designed to align with international dark‑sky guidance.

The new draft replaces a code section adopted in 1999 that used watts as a brightness limit; the rewrite converts standards to lumens (which is the current industry standard) and adds definitions that staff and consultants said are necessary for predictable plan review and enforcement. The proposal creates three mapped lighting zones roughly corresponding to: remote/rural areas (LZ‑0), mixed rural/suburban (LZ‑1), and the more developed Airport–W. Maroon planning overlay (LZ‑2). The code sets per‑fixture lumen caps, an aggregate lumen allowance for properties based on house size, and a set of controls for nonresidential lighting including automatic timers and demand‑reduction measures.

Why the rewrite "The draft is more dark sky compliant," Development Services Manager Larissa LeBlanc told the board, describing the work staff and consultant Bridal Lynch of Clanden Associates performed to harmonize county language with the model lighting ordinance used by the International Dark‑Sky Association and the Illuminating Engineering Society. Dark‑sky advocates who participated in outreach said the region is seeing increasing sky glow from neighboring communities and from new development.

Martha Ferguson, who organized Wild Sky Old Snowmass and led the caucus application to Dark Sky International, told commissioners the county has clear opportunities to protect the night sky.

"That glow over there is sky glow coming from Snowmass Village," Ferguson said while showing a photo that contrasted a dark mountaintop sky with a band of light near the valley.

Main provisions commissioners discussed - Lighting zones: The draft maps three intensity zones and uses different lumen limits in each zone. That is intended to match lighting intensity to land‑use context. LZ‑0 is the most restrictive. - Lumens, not watts: The draft sets numeric lumen allowances. Staff analyzed recently permitted residential plans and recommended a mean allowance of roughly 3.5 lumens per square foot with a cap on large houses to prevent runaway lumen totals. - Curfew: A nighttime curfew would generally require nonessential exterior lighting to be off during late‑night hours; the code contains limited exemptions (motion sensors, safety lighting and operations that extend into curfew hours). Britney (lighting consultant) clarified that for nonresidential properties the curfew is applied as "one hour after closing to one hour before opening" so businesses that close late are exempt during their operating period. - Interior light trespass: The draft treats interior sources that exceed the allowable light at a property line as light trespass; staff said the measurement standard is vertical illumination at the property line and that the code mirrors language used in other jurisdictions. - Phase‑in: The proposal treats existing exterior fixtures as legal‑nonconforming for five years but requires a propertywide retrofit within that phase‑in period; commissioners asked staff to confirm legal and practical enforcement options during that phase‑in.

Public outreach and next steps Staff said the rewrite followed two public outreach meetings and a broad referral distribution (caucuses, HOAs, professional organizations, and municipal partners). The County—s consultant and local dark‑sky advocates presented photos and measurements demonstrating where light is increasing and how new fixtures and LEDs can increase sky glow.

Commissioners asked for more detail about enforcement and education, and they directed staff to prepare outreach materials between first and second reading. Commissioner Patty Harvey said enforcement planning and legal review will be important before a final adoption. Staff also agreed to investigate and report to the board whether existing temporary permits or other conventions rely on older ordinance provisions.

The ordinance passed first reading on a unanimous vote and is scheduled for a public hearing and second reading on Jan. 22, 2026. Staff will return with refined packet materials and recommended outreach and enforcement steps.

Speakers quoted in this article include Development Services Manager Larissa LeBlanc, lighting consultant Bridal Lynch, photographer/advocate Anne Driggers and Wild Sky Old Snowmass founder Martha Ferguson.

Ending: Second‑reading public hearing scheduled Jan. 22; staff will provide additional implementation and enforcement options to the BOCC before final action.