An argument for the dark: Layton streetlights impact night sky
Feb 11, 2026, 5:54 PM | Updated: Feb 12, 2026, 2:00 pm
A photo of the night sky taken by Ryan Andreasen showcases the beauty of the stars. (Ryan Andreasen)
(Ryan Andreasen)
In 2016, a streetlamp was installed in the city of Layton that would flood Ryan Andreasen’s bedroom with light.
Now, the battle to have that streetlight modified has led him to a deep passion for Utah’s night sky.
Andreasen said when the light was first installed, he assumed the best intentions from the city of Layton.
“I called the city and said, ‘hey is there something you can do about it, put a shield on it, because it’s keeping us up at night?’… The engineer’s answer was, ‘Can you put a blanket in your window?’”
This reportedly set the tone for the exchange between Andreasen and the city for the next ten years.
The light outside of Ryan Andreasen’s house in Layton has prevented him from sleeping and even seeing the night sky. (Ryan Andreasen)
Andreasen said he is not alone in his pursuit of darkness; he told KSL that he has seen many neighbors and city residents use Duct Tape, sticky vinyl, and even spray paint to modify their own streetlamps.
He said the frequency of “citizen modifications… should be a sign that they picked the wrong fixture.”
In fact, Layton seems to be in violation of their own city ordinances as Layton City Code § 19.06.100 specifically prohibits excessive light from going into the window’s of private homes.
Andreasen said he just wants the city of Layton to follow their own laws.
Andreasen said he takes this issue seriously for many reasons. He appealed to Utah’s pride in personal property rights in his GoFundMe* but he also said that the fight against light pollution reaches into deeper environmental impacts like bird migration and the night sky.
Through Andreasen’s research, he was invited to an event on Antelope Island hosted by the International Dark Sky association to stargaze. It was here that he found a deep appreciation for space photography.
Andreasen has since built his own observatory in his backyard through which he takes breathtaking photos of the magic of space.
Andreasen is currently getting help from an attorney to finally put the light post matter to bed.
H said he was looking for help paying for the legal costs but promised that every red cent over what is donated for litigation fees will be donated to Antelope Island State Park Dark Sky certification and education efforts.
KSL NewsRadio reached out to Layton, but they did not comment.
*KSLNewsRadio does not assure that the money deposited to the account will be applied for the benefit of the persons named as beneficiaries. If you are considering a deposit to the account, you should consult your own advisors and otherwise proceed at your own risk.
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