Lehi's Outdoor Lighting: The Rules That Matter

Every city handles outdoor lighting a little differently. In Lehi, Utah, there are 3 distinct rules that residents and property owners should be aware of. Some are stricter than what neighboring cities enforce, and others are more relaxed. Here is what you need to know.

Dark Sky Rules

Lehi requires all new outdoor lighting to be fully shielded and aimed downward, shuts most fixtures off by 10 p.m. or an hour after closing, and caps color temperature at 3,000 Kelvin or less to curb blue-rich light. The rules aim to cut skyglow and protect nighttime views.

Key details: Light curfew: 10 p.m. or 1 hr after closing. Max color temperature: 3,000 Kelvin. Pole height, tracts <3 acres: 20 feet. Pole height, tracts >3 acres: 30 feet. Shielding: Fully shielded, aimed downward.

Installing or operating outdoor lighting that is not shielded, exceeds the applicable pole height, runs past the 10 p.m. curfew without an exception, or exceeds the 3,000 Kelvin color limit is a Development Code violation under Section 34.010.D, a class C misdemeanor with each ten-day period of continued noncompliance a separate offense. The Zoning Administrator can require a noncompliant fixture to be retrofitted or removed as a condition of an existing development approval, license, or permit.

Light Trespass & Shielding

Lehi defines light trespass as light falling where it is not wanted or needed and caps it at 0.2 foot-candles measured at a residential property line. Residential fixtures over ten feet must be shielded from neighboring property, and no light may shine directly onto an adjacent dwelling.

Key details: Max intensity at residential line: 0.2 foot-candles. Residential pole/fixture max height: 20 feet. Shielding required above: 10 feet. Photometric design: Required at development approval. Direct shine on neighbor's dwelling: Not permitted.

Outdoor lighting that exceeds 0.2 foot-candles at a residential property line, that is not shielded above ten feet on residential property, or that shines directly onto an adjacent dwelling is a Development Code violation under Section 34.010.D, a class C misdemeanor with each ten-day period of continued noncompliance a separate offense. The Zoning Administrator can require a photometric recheck or fixture modification as a condition of an existing approval.

Billboard Lighting

A converted digital billboard in Lehi can't push nighttime brightness more than 0.3 foot-candles over the sign it replaced, must carry an automatic sensor that dims the display as ambient light drops, and has to prove it with a photometric plan submitted before installation and a light reading afterward.

Key details: Illumination cap: 0.3 ft-candles above old sign (§23.190.D.2.d.ii). Dimming sensor: Required (§23.190.D.2.d.iii). Photometric plan: Due before install (§23.190.D.2.i). Post-install check: Light reading required (§23.190.D.2.i). Residential curfew: 11pm-6am within 400 ft (§23.190.D.2.j).

An EDS conversion that exceeds the 0.3 foot-candle ceiling, skips the required dimming sensor, or lacks the pre- and post-installation photometric readings is out of compliance with its conditional use permit and can have that approval reconsidered or revoked under Section 34.040; the underlying Development Code violation is also a class C misdemeanor under Section 34.010.D.

The Bottom Line

Lehi's outdoor lighting rules are a mixed bag. Some areas are strict, others are relaxed, and the details matter. The best approach is to check the specific rule that applies to your situation rather than assuming Lehi is broadly strict or permissive.

All of the above reflects Lehi's municipal code as of our last review. If you need specifics on fines, exemptions, or filing requirements, the detailed ordinance pages linked above have the full breakdown.