Land Use & Zoning

In Montana, 'dark sky' ordinances in some communities regulate:

ASolar panel installations only

BOutdoor lighting to reduce light pollution, often adopted in rural and resort communities to preserve the night sky✓ Correct

CInterior lighting standards for commercial buildings

DHours of operation for businesses with outdoor lighting

Explanation

Some Montana communities (including areas near national parks and observatories) have adopted 'dark sky' ordinances that regulate outdoor lighting direction, shielding, and intensity to reduce light pollution and preserve Montana's renowned night skies.

People Also Study

Key Terms to Know

Zoning

Local government regulations that control land use by dividing areas into zones specifying permitted uses, building sizes, and densities.

Variance

Official permission to use land in a way that does not conform to the applicable zoning ordinance, granted by a zoning board when strict enforcement would cause undue hardship.

Eminent Domain

The power of government to take private property for public use, with the requirement to pay the owner just compensation.

Adverse Possession

A doctrine by which a person can gain legal title to another's land by openly, continuously, and adversely occupying it for a statutory period.