Clark County, NV Outdoor Lighting: Dark Sky Rules (2026)

Clark County Code Title 30 Chapter 30.64 (Lighting Standards) establishes outdoor lighting rules for unincorporated areas to reduce light pollution, glare, and spillover. Fixtures generally must be fully shielded (zero uplight), with maximum correlated color temperature often limited to 3000K or below in dark-sky overlay areas, and BUG (Backlight, Uplight, Glare) ratings meeting district standards. Parking lots and commercial sites have lumens-per-square-foot caps and curfew requirements that dim or turn off non-essential lighting after operating hours. The dark-sky overlay zones surround Red Rock Canyon National Conservation Area and the Spring Mountains National Recreation Area (Mt. Charleston), protecting astronomical viewing and nocturnal wildlife including desert bighorn sheep and migratory birds. The International Dark Sky Association has certified nearby Death Valley, Great Basin National Park, and several Nevada sites, and advocacy efforts continue to strengthen Clark County standards. Strip casino lighting is partly exempt within the Gaming Enterprise District, but residential and commercial projects near the Strip still comply. Decorative holiday lights are typically exempted seasonally.