Is it legal to light your Christmas lights now in Utah? Find Out Here

Ah, the festive battle of bulbs in Utah! As Thanksgiving leftovers find their way into increasingly creative meals, it's time to transform our homes into dazzling beacons of holiday cheer. But beware, fellow decorators, for the Grinch here isn't stealing Christmas—he’s just making sure your lights follow the law!

Throughout Utah, the rules for holiday displays are as varied as the lights themselves. Summit County is the poster child for these yuletide regulations, with Park City, the Snyderville Basin, and Eastern Summit County each dancing to their own holiday tune. Park City residents can flick the switch on November 1 and let their lights shine until March 1. Meanwhile, in Snyderville Basin, patience is a virtue; you must wait until November 15 to start your display, but you still get until March 1 to enjoy them. Eastern Summit County folks, you're on a tighter schedule—lights off by February 1.

Read More: Simple Change To Your Utah Car Will Result in a Ticket

Now, let's take a sleigh ride to Hideout, nestled in the Wasatch Back. Here, the town folk aren't allowed to light up until Thanksgiving, and everything must be packed away by March 1. In Southern Utah, the little town of Toquerville takes a dim view of flashing holiday lights in residential areas and insists that all lights must be turned off by 11 p.m. (yes, even your neighbor’s epic display). For commercial areas, the rules are even stricter—no flashing lights, and everything off by 11 p.m. or the close of business, whichever is later.

But why these stringent rules, you ask? Well, Utah is a proud home to 23 accredited International Dark-Sky Association places. These dark sky areas are cherished for their starlit beauty, so they take light pollution very seriously. The Mighty Five national parks are leading the charge with year-round light restrictions, joined by a smattering of cities and counties across the state.

So this holiday season, while decking the halls with boughs of holly, remember to check your local lighting ordinances. After all, nothing says "Happy Holidays" like staying on the right side of the law.