Street Lighting:
Supporting Safety, Responsibility, and Equity
For assistance with, or questions about street lighting, please contact Street Lighting Program Manager David Pearson at david.pearson@slcgov.com or 801-483-6738
Master Plan
Dark Sky Lighting
Salt Lake City has a strong commitment to safety, public health, and the environment, including minimizing the adverse impacts of unnecessary light at night on species, habitats, and ecosystems.
The Salt Lake City Department of Public Utilities’ new Streetlighting Master Plan represents a significant shift in how the City utilizes streetlights while balancing multiple values, including safety, character, responsibility to public health and the environment, and equity using a series of plan guideposts. This new Master Plan incorporates Dark Sky strategies such as shielding, color temperature, and controls into public streetlighting.
International Dark Sky Association Support
The International Dark-Sky Association (IDA), which is a recognized authority on light pollution and is working to combat light pollution worldwide, supports the Plan. The IDA states the Master Plan contains the best practices that IDA encourages for all jurisdictions and sets a new standard for street lighting plans for large cities.
The IDA found the Plan to be consistent with both Values-Centered Outdoor Lighting and the Five Principles for Responsible Outdoor Lighting:
- Useful: All light should have a clear purpose
- Targeted: Light should be directed only where needed
- Low Light Levels: Light should be no brighter than necessary
- Controlled: Light should be used only when it is useful
- Color: Use warmer color lights whenever possible
Private Lighting and Dark Sky
There are things homeowners and businesses can do to support Dark Sky principles. This includes following the International Dark-Sky Association Five Principles for Responsible Outdoor Lighting: Useful, Targeted, Low Light Levels, Controlled, and Color.
The IDA maintains a searchable database of lighting products certified to minimize glare, reduce light trespass and help protect the night sky.
For information on private streetlighting parts and service providers, please visit the Salt Lake City Private Lighting Program link.
Private Lighting Program
Report an Outage
Streetlight Map
Banner Information
Our street lighting program works with non-profit community organizations (i.e. schools, arts organizations) in supporting street lighting messaging banners for temporary time periods. Interested groups must apply for the program through our department.
Rate Information
Residential and commercial customers support street lighting through a monthly user fee, included in the bill for drinking water, wastewater, stormwater and sanitation services.
