Deschutes County is taking steps to protect our night skies from light pollution and wants to hear what you think about it. The Deschutes County Planning Commission is hosting a public hearing this Thursday, July 10, to discuss some significant changes to rural lighting rules.
The big changes on the table
The proposed updates are designed to make things simpler for everyone involved. The new approach throws out all those confusing tables and wattage requirements in favor of three straightforward rules that apply to most outdoor lights: First, the lights need to point downward. Second, they must be fully shielded so that light doesn’t scatter everywhere. Third, lights can’t spill over onto a neighbor’s property. While these guidelines won’t be mandatory, they’ll give people solid advice on how to light their properties with minimal effects on rural night skies.
“The regulations aim to simplify and modernize the code for both residential and commercial uses,” said Deschutes County Community Development Senior Planner Tanya Saltzman. “The draft clarifies certain exemptions and generally reorganizes things to make it more user-friendly for both residents, businesses and staff.”
The County is borrowing some wisdom from Dark Sky International, an organization that knows a thing or two about responsible lighting. The City of Sisters recently did something similar to its lighting rules. The Planning Commission hopes that rural residents of Deschutes County will have a similar experience.
What’s this all about?
The County is working to make outdoor lighting more responsible and less disruptive to our dark skies. “The Community Development Department has recognized that enforcement of outdoor lighting regulations is difficult for many reasons, and has received previous input that a simpler code is easier to enforce and understand.” Saltzman adds, “Recognizing the practical limitations of enforcement, CDD will also initiate a public education effort, since a lot of people likely are unaware of the regulations. Communicating best practices and the general importance of dark sky principles will be a key facet of this, and the hope is that this education will encourage voluntary compliance across the rural county.”
What happens next?
The Planning Commission isn’t making any final decisions at Thursday’s hearing. They’re gathering input and will eventually make recommendations to the Board of County Commissioners, who will have the final say. The hearing represents a balance between practical lighting needs and preserving the natural darkness.
The public is invited to attend the hearing during the Planning Commission’s regularly scheduled meeting at 5:30 pm on Thurs., July 10, in the Barnes Sawyer Room of the Deschutes County Services Building. Community members can provide feedback in person or virtually.
This article appears in Source Weekly July 10, 2025.
MAKE LOCAL JOURNALISM HAPPEN
Republish our articles for free, online or in print, under a Creative Commons license.
