Boulder City, NV Outdoor Lighting: Dark Sky Rules (2026)

Boulder City is situated adjacent to Lake Mead National Recreation Area and has adopted outdoor lighting standards to protect dark skies and minimize glare. The city lighting ordinance requires that exterior lighting be fully shielded or full-cutoff so that no light is emitted above the horizontal plane of the fixture. Maximum color temperatures are typically restricted to 3000 Kelvin or lower to reduce blue-rich light that contributes to skyglow. Lighting must be directed downward and onto the intended surface, with spillover onto adjacent properties minimized. Commercial parking lot lighting is subject to height and illuminance limits, and sports field and temporary event lighting has specific standards. Residential porch, landscape, and security lighting must use shielded fixtures. Motion-activated security lighting is encouraged over dusk-to-dawn lighting. Holiday seasonal lighting has limited exemptions. Existing non-conforming lighting is typically grandfathered until replaced. The Community Development Department enforces the lighting ordinance and reviews plans during permit submittals. National Park Service areas nearby follow even stricter standards to preserve astronomical viewing and wildlife habitat.