City of Ozark Passes Dark Sky Ordinance

July 15, 2021

After careful consideration, the City of Ozark’s Board of Alderman unanimously passed a Dark Sky Ordinance on July 6th, marking the first-of-its-kind legislation in the state of Missouri.

Using the standards set by the International Dark Sky Association (IDA) located in Tucson, Arizona, the ordinance was drafted to address light pollution in the community with the goal of balancing the impact to development while preserving the viability of the night sky. The ordnance addresses such issues as: Backlight-Uplight-Glare (BUG) ratings, types of light fixtures, the number of measurable lumens (measured in footcandles) can produce, etc.

“The City is taking a progressive step in passing the Dark Sky Ordinance,” said City Administrator, Steve Childers. “By passing this ordinance we will balance the preservation of our night skies, a unique cultural asset in the Ozarks, while fulfilling the needs of our developing community. We want to thank everyone who was able to make this possible.”
The initiative was due in part to the efforts of a small group of committed grassroots activists, with the sole purpose of moving dark sky initiatives forward in the City of Ozark: through public and professional discussions, as well as through the legislative process. Their efforts, which began as a luncheon in 2018 have now come to fruition with the Board of Aldermen unanimously passing the Dark Sky ordinance on July 6.

"The passage of this ordinance sends a loud and clear message to those citizens living in, and to those interested in relocating, that the community of Ozark is willing to set such high standards, and is resolute in its efforts to protect the environment in which we live and share,” said Ward I Alderman RJ Flores. "The ultimate goal is to one day see Ozark on the national list of Dark Sky Communities.”

The City of Ozark hopes that by being the first in Missouri to take these steps, it encourages other communities across the state to do the same.

DARK SKY ORDINANCE FAQ:

1. What is the Dark Skies ordinance?
The Dark Skies ordinance addresses light pollution in the community; the ordinance is in place to begin taking the necessary steps to balance the impact light pollution has on development while preserving the visibility of the night sky.

2. How does the Dark Skies ordinance impact me or my business?
The Dark Skies ordinance’s language establishes Design Standards for on-site lighting, which is defined to be all non-public owned, installed, or maintained lighting on all property except for single-family and two-family residential properties. A full list of exterior light sources impacted and their maximum lumination is available in the ordinance.

3. What does that mean for me as a citizen?
It means the City of Ozark is taking monumental steps to minimize light pollution in our beloved community and keep the night skies as clear and beautiful as they have always been.

4. What are the exemptions?
• Emergency Services Lighting
• Infrared Security Lighting
• Outdoor recreational uses
• Temporary seasonal/holiday lighting from one month before and one month after a federally observed holiday

Please see the full details of the exemptions in the ordinance by clicking here.