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⭐ DarkSky International · Community Certification

Road to Dark Sky Certification

Kerrville's step-by-step journey to becoming an officially recognized International Dark Sky Community — one of the highest honors a city can earn for protecting the night.

5 of 27 steps completed  ·  18% of the way to certification
ℹ️ About this checklist

Kerrville is pursuing the International Dark Sky Community designation — awarded to cities and municipalities that adopt quality lighting policies, educate residents, and lead by example with public lighting retrofits. The full process typically takes one to three years. Completed steps are shown with a green checkmark; steps still ahead are outlined.

1
Getting Ready
Organizing the community and making initial contact with DarkSky International
Avg. timeline: ~45 days
✓
Form a core advocacy group or coalition
Organize the neighbors, volunteers, and local leaders who will drive the certification effort.
✓ Done — KFOTNS founded
✓
Engage the mayor and city council; secure their public support
City leadership must champion the effort — their support is essential for lighting policy and public lighting retrofits.
✓ Done — Article X adopted
✓
Adopt a dark-sky-friendly city lighting ordinance
A formal, enforceable outdoor lighting policy is the cornerstone of Community certification.
✓ Done — Article X Outdoor Lighting Ordinance
✓
Launch public outreach — website, social media, community events
Demonstrate that dark sky education is reaching both residents and visitors on an ongoing basis.
✓ Done — kerrnightsky.com, Facebook, Hill Country Night Sky Month
✓
Recruit business community support
Show broad participation with examples of private properties adopting dark-sky-friendly lighting.
✓ Done — Recognized Businesses program
✓
Review DarkSky Community certification guidelines & checklist
Download and study the official Community Guidelines PDF and Application Checklist PDF from DarkSky International.
Key step
✓
Join DarkSky International as a member organization
A formal DarkSky membership is required — all applications must be nominated by a member in good standing.
Required before applying
✓
Connect with a local DarkSky Advocate, Delegate, or Chapter
Nearby Advocates can provide guidance, co-sponsor events, and write letters of support. Search the DarkSky Advocates page. DarkSky Texas is the state chapter.
✓
Submit the pre-application inquiry form to DarkSky International
This starts the official relationship with DarkSky staff and triggers the eligibility review. Requires site maps, boundary description, and a summary of dark sky actions taken.
Official starting gun
✓
Receive eligibility confirmation from DarkSky staff (≈ 30 days)
Staff will confirm Kerrville qualifies as a Community candidate and outline any additional requirements specific to your application.
✓
Pay the one-time, non-refundable application fee
The fee is paid after eligibility is confirmed; the exact amount is provided by DarkSky staff at that stage.
2
Building the Case
Gathering evidence, completing retrofits, and writing the formal application
Avg. timeline: 1 – 3 years
✓
Begin regular night sky quality monitoring (SQM surveys)
Use a Sky Quality Meter to record readings at consistent locations over time. Documents baseline conditions and shows ongoing engagement. See DarkSky's survey guide.
Must be ongoing
✓
Complete a full inventory of city-owned outdoor lighting fixtures
Catalog every publicly owned streetlight, park light, and facility light — type, wattage, shielding, color temperature. This is the foundation for the retrofit plan.
✓
Develop a public lighting retrofit plan and timeline
Create a phased plan to bring all city-owned lights into dark-sky-friendly compliance within five years of certification. Prioritize the most impactful fixtures first.
✓
Execute and document public lighting retrofits with photos
Begin replacing non-compliant public fixtures with dark-sky-friendly alternatives. Photo-document before and after each retrofit for the application.
✓
Gather private-sector lighting compliance examples
Document businesses, developments, and homeowners that have voluntarily adopted dark-sky-friendly lighting — the Recognized Businesses program already provides a foundation here.
Head start — Recognized Businesses program
✓
Collect formal letters of support from city officials, orgs, and businesses
Letters from the mayor, city council, Chamber of Commerce, schools, civic groups, and local nonprofits demonstrate the breadth of community buy-in required by the application.
✓
Obtain a formal DarkSky member nomination for the application
All applications require a nomination from a current DarkSky International member in good standing.
✓
Build a documented record of public outreach events and activities
Log all dark sky events, presentations, school programs, and media coverage with dates, attendee counts, and photos. The application requires proof of ongoing, consistent education efforts.
Head start — Hill Country Night Sky Month events
✓
Write the formal application document
Compile all evidence into the written application per DarkSky's Community Guidelines. Covers lighting policy, retrofit progress, outreach history, monitoring data, and letters of support.
Core deliverable
✓
Submit draft application and complete revision rounds with DarkSky staff
Most applications go through ~3 rounds of revision. DarkSky staff will flag gaps and request clarifications. Budget several months for this back-and-forth.
✓
Notify DarkSky staff 45 days before final submission
Required to be assigned to the Dark Sky Places Committee's next review cycle. Miss this window and you're pushed to the following cycle.
Don't skip this step
3
Final Review & Certification
DarkSky committee review, decision, and public announcement
Avg. timeline: 90 – 150 days
✓
DarkSky staff complete final application review
Staff polish the application for committee presentation, ensuring all requirements are met and the document is in final format.
✓
Dark Sky Places Committee review and vote (≈ 2 months)
An independent committee of scientists, past applicants, and nonprofit professionals judges the application. The outcome is: full endorsement, conditional endorsement, or rejection.
✓
Receive and respond to committee decision
If conditionally endorsed, address requested modifications and resubmit. If fully endorsed, proceed to certification announcement planning.
✓
Coordinate certification announcement with DarkSky International
DarkSky publishes a formal announcement and creates a dedicated page for Kerrville on their website. Coordinate press releases, events, and media for maximum community impact.
✓
🎉 Kerrville becomes a certified International Dark Sky Community
One of fewer than 50 certified Dark Sky Communities in the world — and the first in the Texas Hill Country.
DarkSky Community Guidelines

The complete requirements and application checklist for the International Dark Sky Community designation, published by DarkSky International.

📋 Community Guidelines PDF