What “Dark Sky” Policies Are

“Dark Sky” ordinances are rules designed to reduce light pollution by limiting outdoor lighting. Cities often require:

Shielded light fixtures
Lower brightness levels
Restrictions on when lights can be on
Limits on certain types of signage or lighting

These policies are often promoted by organizations like the International Dark-Sky Association.

While the goal is protecting night skies and wildlife, there are legitimate concerns for coastal towns and tourist economies.

Concerns About Dark Sky Policies

1. Public Safety Concerns

Reduced lighting can make areas harder to see at night, especially in:

• Parking lots
  
  

• Beach access points
  
  

• Walking paths
  
  

• Residential streets
  
  

Possible impacts:

• Increased trip and fall hazards
  
  

• Harder for police or emergency services to see activity
  
  

• Residents feeling less safe walking at night
  
  

In coastal communities where fog and wet roads already reduce visibility, less lighting could worsen conditions.

2. Impact on Local Businesses

Businesses rely heavily on visibility at night, especially in tourism areas.

Restrictions could affect:

• Storefront lighting
  
  

• Signs and displays
  
  

• Restaurants and nightlife
  
  

• Hotel visibility
  
  

If lighting must be dimmer or turned off earlier, it could:

• Reduce foot traffic
  
  

• Make businesses harder for visitors to find
  
  

• Hurt evening tourism
  
  

For a tourism town like Lincoln City, evening visibility is often part of the economy.

3. Cost to Property Owners

Dark sky compliance often requires changing lighting fixtures.

This can mean:

• Replacing existing lights with shielded fixtures
  
  

• Lower wattage bulbs
  
  

• New installation requirements
  
  

For homeowners and businesses this could mean hundreds to thousands of dollars depending on property size.

People often ask:
Why should residents pay to fix something that wasn’t a problem before?

4. Enforcement Issues

Dark sky ordinances can be difficult to enforce.

Cities would need to monitor:

• Brightness levels
  
  

• Fixture angles
  
  

• Lighting schedules
  
  

This could lead to:

• Complaints between neighbors
  
  

• Code enforcement issues
  
  

• More regulatory oversight from the city
  
  

Some residents worry about overregulation of private property.

5. Questionable Local Benefit

Dark sky programs often aim to create astronomy tourism or preserve star visibility.

However coastal areas like Lincoln City already have:

• Fog
  
  

• Cloud cover
  
  

• Marine layer weather
  
  

Because of that, the actual improvement in visible stars may be limited, raising the question of whether the restrictions are worth the trade-offs.

6. Tourist Safety on the Coast

Nighttime beach areas already present risks:

• Tides
  
  

• Driftwood
  
  

• Uneven terrain
  
  

Reduced lighting near beach access points could make it harder for visitors unfamiliar with the area.