Lighting Regulations in Blaine County, Idaho: Preserving the Dark Sky in Resort Country

Introduction: Why Lighting Matters in Blaine County

Nestled in the scenic landscapes of Idaho, Blaine County stands as a testament to natural beauty with its unique lava formations in the Great Rift and the picturesque surroundings that have attracted residents and visitors for generations. Established in 1895, the county has evolved while maintaining a commitment to preserving its natural environment.

Home to the famous Sun Valley Resort, Blaine County has developed regulations that reflect its values: protecting property values, preserving natural beauty, and maintaining the aesthetic qualities that make this area special. Among these regulations, lighting ordinances play a crucial role in ensuring development harmonizes with the county's commitment to environmental stewardship.

The dark, star-filled night sky is one of Blaine County's most precious natural resources, and the county's lighting regulations are specifically designed to protect this asset while ensuring public safety and functionality.

Quick Reference Guide: Key Lighting Requirements

Before diving into the details, here are the most important lighting requirements to know in Blaine County:

• Fixture Requirements: All lights must be fully shielded and downcast
• Light Color: Maximum 3,000 Kelvin correlated color temperature
• Uplighting: Prohibited in all zoning districts
• Height Restrictions:
• Parking areas: Maximum 17 feet
• General fixtures: Maximum 30 feet
• Residential zones: Formula-based (H = 3 + D/3), maximum 12 feet
• Light Trespass: No light may fall onto neighboring properties or roadways
• Controls Required: Automatic shutoff controls for non-residential lighting
• Prohibited: Flashing, blinking, rotating, chasing lights and searchlights
• Compliance: Lighting plans required for most development applications

Understanding Outdoor Lighting Standards

Purpose and Scope

Blaine County's outdoor lighting regulations (Chapter 29A) serve multiple purposes:

• Protecting public health, safety, and welfare
• Preserving scenic and aesthetic values
• Conserving natural resources
• Reducing light pollution, including glare, light trespass, and sky glow
• Preventing energy waste
• Preserving the nocturnal environment

All outdoor lighting in the county must conform to these standards, which apply to both new construction and modifications to existing properties.

Basic Fixture Requirements

The foundation of Blaine County's lighting regulations centers on how light fixtures are designed and installed:

• Fixture Mounting: Must be mounted so that no light is emitted above the horizontal plane of the fixture
• Light Direction: Any light source shall be downcast and fully shielded
• Full Cutoff Required: Luminaires must be designed where no light escapes at or above a horizontal plane running through the lowest point of the fixture
• Shielding: Fixtures must incorporate solid barriers that permit no light to escape through the barrier

Light Color and Quality

Blaine County specifies requirements for light color to minimize impact on the night environment:

• Maximum Color Temperature: Correlated color temperature of any exterior light source shall not exceed 3,000 Kelvin
• This warmer light spectrum helps minimize disruption to wildlife and reduces sky glow

Height and Placement Regulations

Maximum Height Allowances

Different environments have different height restrictions for lighting:

• Parking Areas: Luminaires shall be no higher than 17 feet measured from ground to top of the highest light source
• Residential Zones: Heights determined by a formula - H = 3 + (D/3), where D is distance in feet to nearest property boundary
• Cannot exceed 12 feet regardless of formula result
• Arterial Roadways: Streetlights limited to 20 feet
• General Maximum: No light fixture or luminaire shall exceed 30 feet in height
• Special Exceptions: Monuments, statuary, public buildings, correctional facilities, and industrial sites may have fixtures up to 60 feet with a Conditional Use Permit

Placement to Prevent Light Trespass

Light trespass occurs when light falls onto neighboring properties or public rights-of-way:

• All fixtures must be aimed and shielded to confine illumination to the property boundaries
• Particular care must be taken to ensure direct illumination does not fall onto or across any public or private street or road
• Motion sensing lights must be properly adjusted to turn off when detected motion ceases

Special Applications and Requirements

Assembly Lighting

For public assemblies, specific lighting requirements apply:

• Minimum Illumination: If assembly continues during darkness, illumination of at least 5 foot-candles required for central areas including medical facilities
• Time Restrictions: Light cannot shine beyond boundaries between 11:00 PM and 7:00 AM
• Must comply with all applicable County ordinances and codes

Airport Vicinity Lighting Restrictions

The Airport Vicinity Overlay District has additional restrictions to ensure air traffic safety:

• Prohibited Light Types:
• Moving, pulsating, flashing, rotating or oscillating lights
• Any light constituting "misleading light" under FAA regulations
• Directional Requirements: Flood lights, spot lights or other lighting devices must be arranged or shielded to prevent upward illumination
• Materials: No glare-producing building materials allowed on any structure

Sign Lighting Standards

Sign illumination follows specific requirements:

• Internal Lighting: May only illuminate the copy portion (letters and symbols) of signs
• Background: All non-copy areas must be constructed, treated or colored to be opaque
• External Lighting: Must specifically illuminate the sign, be downcast, with the lighting source not visible
• Prohibited: Moving, revolving, flashing, intermittent or oscillating signs, parts or lights

Timing Controls and Energy Conservation

Automatic Controls

Energy conservation is built into the lighting requirements:

• Required Technology: All nonresidential lighting fixtures must employ automatic lighting controls
• Control Options include:
• Timers
• Wireless remote monitoring with turn on/off capabilities
• Photo sensitive light controls
• Photoelectric switches
• Occupancy sensors
• Astronomic time switches
• Backup Power: All controls must have battery or similar backup power

After-Hours Lighting Reduction

• All nonessential outdoor commercial, recreational, and residential lighting must be turned off after business hours or when not in use
• Sensor Activation: Sensor activated lights are recommended to replace existing security lighting
• Exceptions: Lighting required by Building Code or necessary for public safety

What Property Owners Should Know

Compliance Process

If you're developing property or modifying exterior lighting:

• A lighting plan is required for conditional use permits, planned unit developments, subdivisions, recreation development plans, applicable sign permits, and building permits
• Plans must show location, type, height, color temperature, and boundary of all proposed and existing fixtures
• The administrator will review outdoor lighting to determine compliance
• Written recommendations will be provided before approval of any permits or certificates of occupancy

Exemptions to Know

Not all lighting is subject to the full requirements:

• Agricultural Activities: Lighting for cultivation, crop production, greenhouses, and livestock management (though security lighting must comply)
• Emergency Situations: Traffic control, roadway, vehicular lights, and temporary emergency lighting
• Traditional Lighting: Open flame gas lamps
• Holiday Lighting: Permitted between November 15 and February 1, with restrictions on spacing and lumen output

Prohibited Lighting

Avoid these types of lighting, which are explicitly prohibited:

• Flashing, blinking, rotating, chasing, or rapidly changing color/intensity lighting
• Searchlights, beacons, laser sources, and neon lighting
• Strings or strands of lights (except permitted holiday lighting)
• Any single luminaire exceeding 20,000 initial lumens
• Uplighting in all zoning districts

Supporting Blaine County's Lighting Vision

Bock Lighting, with roots dating back to 1918, shares Blaine County's commitment to preserving natural beauty while ensuring safety and functionality. We understand the delicate balance communities like Blaine County strive to maintain between modern lighting needs and preserving the dark sky environment.

As a Northeast Ohio manufacturer with decades of experience, we appreciate Blaine County's thoughtful approach to lighting regulations. The county's emphasis on fully shielded fixtures, warm color temperatures, and minimizing light trespass aligns with sustainable lighting practices that Bock has long championed.

Our experience working with historic communities has given us insight into how lighting can enhance character rather than detract from it. We understand the unique challenges of resort communities like Sun Valley, where lighting must support both visitors and year-round residents while preserving the natural environment that makes the area special.

Bock Lighting serves as an educational resource for communities navigating lighting regulations, helping property owners understand how to achieve compliance while meeting their functional needs. Our commitment to sustainable and responsible lighting practices mirrors Blaine County's vision for preserving its scenic beauty and dark skies for future generations.

Conclusion

Blaine County's lighting regulations reflect its commitment to preserving the natural beauty that makes this area special while ensuring public safety and functionality. By focusing on fully shielded fixtures, appropriate mounting heights, and preventing light trespass, these regulations help maintain the county's dark skies and scenic character.

Property owners, developers, and businesses can contribute to this vision by understanding and following these requirements. By doing so, they help preserve one of Blaine County's most precious resources – its natural beauty both day and night.

Whether you're planning a new development, renovating an existing property, or simply replacing outdoor lighting fixtures, considering these regulations early in the process will help ensure compliance and contribute to the county's environmental goals.