Lighting Regulations in Page, Arizona: Balancing Dark Skies and Community Safety

Introduction

Nestled on the southern edge of the Great Basin Desert along the Colorado Plateau, Page, Arizona offers some of the most spectacular night skies in the American Southwest. Established in 1957 as a housing community for workers building the Glen Canyon Dam, Page has transformed from a construction camp into a tourism hub thanks to its proximity to Lake Powell and other natural wonders.

The city's lighting regulations reflect its unique position as both a residential community and gateway to some of America's most pristine natural landscapes. By implementing thoughtful lighting standards, Page balances the needs of residents and businesses with the preservation of the area's naturally dark skies – a resource that increasingly draws visitors seeking stargazing opportunities.

Quick Reference Guide to Page Lighting Regulations

Key Technical Requirements:

• Maximum Color Temperature: 3000K CCT for all outdoor lighting
• Height Restrictions: 30-foot maximum for nonresidential lighting fixtures
• Residential Fixtures: Limited to 1600 lumens per fixture
• Shielding Requirements: Full shielding required for most outdoor lighting
• Recreational Lighting: Must not exceed 2,250 lumens after 11:00 p.m.
• Sign Illumination: Internal lighting or fully shielded down-lighting only

Critical Compliance Dates:

• Lighting installed before April 22, 2023 is considered legal non-conforming
• Non-conforming lighting must be updated during significant maintenance, upgrades, or when use changes

General Outdoor Lighting Standards

Purpose and Scope

Page's lighting regulations are designed to ensure minimal light pollution, prevent direct light trespass onto neighboring properties, reduce glare, and increase energy conservation – all while maintaining adequate night lighting for safety and security purposes.

These regulations apply to all outdoor lighting including search lights, spotlights, floodlights, and general outdoor lighting for buildings, recreational areas, parking lots, signage, landscaping, and security. Notably, roadway and street lighting installed in public rights-of-way are exempt from these provisions.

Technical Requirements for All Lighting

For all nonresidential outdoor lighting (except athletic fields and similar facilities), the following standards apply:

• Height limitations: Light fixtures cannot exceed 30 feet in height
• Direction: All lighting sources must be down-lighting
• Shielding: Fixtures must be fully shielded to prevent direct light trespass onto adjacent properties
• Color temperature: The Correlated Color Temperature (CCT) cannot exceed 3000K (with a manufacturing variation allowance of +/- 200K)

What "Fully Shielded" Means

The regulations define "fully shielded" as fixtures designed so that light rays, whether direct or indirect, are projected below a horizontal plane running through the lowest point where light is emitted. This design prevents light trespass from extending beyond property boundaries.

The city provides diagrams showing acceptable and unacceptable light fixtures to help property owners understand compliance requirements.

Residential Lighting Requirements

For residential properties, Page's regulations are straightforward:

• All exterior lighting is limited to 1600 lumens per fixture
• Any residential outdoor lighting exceeding 1600 lumens must be fully shielded
• Shielding must prevent light trespass onto adjoining properties

Walkways and Paths

For pole-mounted lighting along walkways and paths:

• All lights must be directed downward
• Light sources must be fully shielded
• Fixtures must prevent any direct light trespass onto adjacent properties

Commercial and Special Purpose Lighting

Security and Landscape Lighting

Security and landscape lighting must adhere to strict standards:

• Must be fully shielded and directed downward
• Must prevent any direct light trespass onto adjacent properties
• Must not contribute to light pollution in the night sky
• Maximum CCT of 3000K

Searchlights

Searchlights have specific operational restrictions:

• May through October: Operation allowed only between 6:00 a.m. and 11:00 p.m.
• November through April: Operation allowed only between 7:00 a.m. and 10:00 p.m.
• Cannot be operated on residentially zoned properties
• Special permission from the Council is required for searchlights projecting beams into the sky for a distance exceeding one-half mile

Recreational Lighting

For recreational areas, lighting:

• Must not exceed 2,250 lumens after 11:00 p.m. without a temporary use permit
• Should follow the general shielding requirements for commercial lighting

Sign Illumination Standards

Commercial Signs

Page's regulations for sign lighting are specific:

• Commercial outdoor sign lighting is allowed only through:
• Internal lighting sources
• Fully shielded and direct down-lighting onto the sign
• Sign down-lighting is allowed only for signs less than 20 feet high
• All illumination must be fully shielded to prevent light trespass
• Sources of illumination must not be visible

Electronic Message Signs

For electronic message (EM) signs:

• Must have automatic dimming controls (photocell or software-based)
• Must reduce illumination intensity as ambient lighting conditions change
• Cannot include moving or flashing green or red features that could be mistaken for traffic control devices

Special Sign Types

Marquee Signs:

• May be illuminated internally or indirectly from above
• Lighting fixtures must be decorative and architecturally compatible with the buildings they illuminate
• May contain flashing or blinking elements within the sign area

Gas-Filled Signs:

• Gas-filled signs (neon, argon, krypton, etc.) and LED signs designed to mimic gas-filled signs are permitted
• Limited to interior window display only
• Total area cannot exceed eight square feet per business

Non-Conforming Lighting

Grandfathered Lighting

Outdoor lighting legally installed before April 22, 2023 that doesn't conform to current regulations is considered legal non-conforming. However, this status changes when:

• The lighting has been discontinued for six months or more
• The lighting is damaged and requires repairs for safe operation
• Significant maintenance, upgrades, or expansions to the outdoor lighting are performed
• The use of the building, structure, facility or premises changes

When any of these conditions occur, lighting must be brought into compliance with current standards.

Replacement Requirements

When replacing lamps in non-conforming fixtures, the replacement lamp shall not exceed 3000K CCT.

Street Lighting Requirements

Page requires developers to take responsibility for street lighting:

• Developers of all property types are responsible for the cost of design, materials, and installation of street lighting within and adjacent to their development
• Street lighting plans must be prepared and sealed by a licensed electrical engineer registered in Arizona
• All plans require review and approval by the Site Plan Review Committee
• Street light spacing cannot exceed 300 feet
• Intersections require minimum numbers of street lights based on street types:
• Local/local or local/private: 1 light
• Local/collector, collector/collector, or local/arterial: 2 lights

What Property Owners Should Know

Planning for Compliance

When developing or modifying a property in Page, you'll need to:

1. Submit a lighting plan with your building permit application
2. Ensure the plan is prepared by a technically competent lighting professional
3. Include details on the location of transformers, junction boxes, conduit, and light poles
4. Label the number and size of conduits including any spare conduits

Common Compliance Issues

Property owners often face challenges with:

• Light trespass - Ensure your lighting doesn't spill onto neighboring properties
• Color temperature - Remember the 3000K CCT maximum
• Shielding - Most fixtures require full shielding to prevent upward light
• Lumen limits - Residential fixtures cannot exceed 1600 lumens

Supporting Page's Lighting Vision

While not mentioned in the regulations, Bock Lighting understands the unique balance Page seeks to maintain. As a manufacturer with roots dating back to 1918, we recognize the importance of preserving the spectacular night skies that make the Colorado Plateau region special while providing functional lighting for community safety.

Our expertise in dark-sky friendly lighting solutions aligns with Page's commitment to reducing light pollution while meeting the practical needs of residents and businesses. We appreciate Page's thoughtful approach to balancing tourism infrastructure with preservation of the natural environment that draws visitors to the area.

Bock Lighting shares Page's commitment to sustainable and responsible lighting practices and can serve as a resource for understanding how lighting technologies can support both safety and environmental goals.

Conclusion

Page's lighting regulations reflect the community's roots as a planned city that continues to evolve alongside the natural wonders that surround it. By implementing thoughtful standards for outdoor lighting, the city preserves its spectacular night skies while ensuring adequate illumination for safety and security.

Whether you're a resident, business owner, or developer, understanding these regulations helps ensure that Page remains a place where people can enjoy both modern amenities and the natural beauty of the Colorado Plateau – day and night.

For complete details on lighting requirements, consult § 152.059 of the Page Municipal Code, which contains the comprehensive lighting standards referenced throughout the city's regulations.