Boise City Code Title 11 limits exterior lighting intensity and requires full-cutoff fixtures on commercial properties to reduce light pollution and preserve night sky visibility around the Boise Foothills.
Boise zoning code requires new commercial, multifamily, and industrial outdoor lighting to use full-cutoff (dark-sky compliant) fixtures directing light downward. Maximum illumination at property lines is typically 0.5 footcandles residential boundary, 1.0 footcandle commercial boundary. Pole heights limited by zone (typically 20-30 feet max). The Boise Foothills and Ridge-to-Rivers open space benefit from reduced skyglow. Residential single-family is largely exempt but courtesy to neighbors expected. LED color temperature recommended at 3000K or warmer to reduce blue-light skyglow. The Boise Astronomical Society advocates for dark-sky practices.
Non-compliant lighting on new commercial: correction required, cost to retrofit. Light trespass complaint: abatement order.
Other ordinances people look up for this city. Green dot = verified primary-source excerpt.
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See how Boise's light pollution & sky glow rules stack up against other locations.
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