{"id":13672,"date":"2018-10-31T16:24:41","date_gmt":"2018-10-31T22:24:41","guid":{"rendered":"https:\/\/scotthomeinspection.com\/?p=13672"},"modified":"2025-03-10T08:32:33","modified_gmt":"2025-03-10T14:32:33","slug":"boulder-outdoor-lighting-ordinance-rental-licensing","status":"publish","type":"post","link":"https:\/\/scotthomeinspection.com\/boulder-outdoor-lighting-ordinance-rental-licensing\/","title":{"rendered":"City of Boulder Outdoor Lighting Ordinance: How This Will Affect Rental Licensing"},"content":{"rendered":"

In an effort to reduce light pollution, many municipalities throughout Colorado have been looking at ordinances to regulate and restrict outdoor lighting in recent years.\u00a0 This effort is commonly referred to as the “Dark Sky Movement.” The most touted advantages of reducing light pollution include increasing visibility of the stars and the night sky, reducing the effects of lighting on the environment, improving health for both people and wildlife,<\/sup>\u00a0and reducing overall energy usage.<\/p>\n

Several municipalities already have requirements in place for new construction outdoor lighting, but few have requirements that have addressed this for existing properties.\u00a0 The City of Boulder is looking to do just that.\u00a0 In 2003, Boulder adopted the Boulder Outdoor Lighting Ordinance<\/em>, which included a 15-year grace period for all properties to become compliant.\u00a0 The 15-year mark has been reached, and the date has been set for requiring compliance for November 16, 2018.<\/p>\n

For homeowners, this means that if you have not obtained a building permit since 2003 that demonstrated full compliance with the lighting regulations, you will want to look at becoming compliant before November 16th, when enforcement goes into effect.<\/p>\n

How will this affect the City of Boulder Rental Licensing?<\/h2>\n<\/div>

Starting November 16, 2018, any property owner seeking to obtain a rental license will be required to show compliance or must begin working toward compliance with the Boulder outdoor lighting ordinance. These units will generally fall under one of three categories.<\/p>\n

For single-family rental properties<\/strong>: The outdoor lighting will need to be compliant before you can receive your next 4-year rental license.<\/p>\n

For multi-family rental properties:<\/strong> Including duplexes, if lighting is not compliant, you can obtain a reduced-term rental license, which will give you 1 year to show compliance.\u00a0 For these properties, a lighting plan will need to be submitted to the City of Boulder with your rental application, and once compliant, the full 4-year rental license can be obtained.<\/p>\n

For condominiums:<\/strong>\u00a0Where the HOA is responsible for managing the outdoor lighting, it will not typically be the responsibility of individual property owners, and you should be able to obtain your rental license, while the HOA works with the city in becoming compliant.<\/p>\n<\/div><\/div><\/div>

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What does compliant outdoor lighting look like?<\/h2>\n