In US first, Petoskey passes rules to crack down on light pollution

Petoskey is changing its lighting standards to become more dark sky zone-compliant
The city is located near two dark zones, one of which is an internationally recognized sky park
Michigan has been growing its number of protected dark sky areas over the years, with two internationally recognized zones established since 2022

While no Michigan cities are recognized as dark sky communities, Petoskey is working to reduce its future light pollution one lightbulb at a time.

Petoskey recently became the first city in America to enact a DarkSky recognized ordinance in partnership with the group DarkSky International to crack down on light pollution. While that organization recognizes several dark sky cities around the country (though none are in Michigan), Petoskey is the first to pass that type of ordinance.

“Outdoor lighting has become a strategic need for jurisdictions trying to protect the health and welfare of residents enjoying outdoor space, defining and beautifying city character and preventing misuses of artificial light at night,” wrote DarkSky International Policy Advisor Rick Utting in an email to Bridge Michigan.

The new ordinance requires that any new development have lights that turn off by 11 p.m. and meet specified brightness and temperature levels.

“Over a period of time, it’s gonna make sure that people in the community can still wander outside, look up in the sky and see the stars without seeing a lot of light pollution,” said City Planner John Lacoangeli.

Other requirements include installing shades on fixtures to direct light downward.

Existing buildings are grandfathered into the city’s former lighting ordinance and will have to meet the city’s new lighting standard if they make any major renovations. City Manager Shane Horn said it will take several years before all buildings are up to code.

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“We’re not going to see this make a significant impact probably for several years as lighting continues to get cycled out,” Horn said.

Horn said that most of the lighting owned by the city meets the new standards, but some fixtures will be replaced.

“Certainly, as we look at our lighting from a traffic standpoint, it will require us as the city to look at making these modifications to make sure that we’re in compliance with our own ordinance,” he said. “So I guess it remains to be seen what the budgetary impact may be over the course of time to make this happen.”

Michigan is home to 10 dark sky zones protected by the state or DarkSky International, three in the northwest region of the state, but none are in cities. Beaver Island State Wildlife Research Area, which is off the coast of Charliviox, became the most recent zone to be added to Michigan’s list of dark sky locations in 2024.

“Astrotourism is on the rise, especially in Michigan,” Dark Sky International Delegate Robyn Porteen wrote in an email to Bridge Michigan. “State Parks are responding by holding Star Parties, night sky hikes and nighttime events involving the stars.”

When traversing a dark sky zone, Porteen said there is certain lighting etiquette for stargazing.

“Make sure to turn off bright headlights as soon as you enter a parking space, and bring red colored flashlights when walking around a night sky park,” Porteen wrote.

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In US first, Petoskey passes rules to crack down on light pollution

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