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Streetlights Along County Roads

Numerous streetlights, also known as luminaires, are located along county roads. Most of these were not installed by the county; instead, they were funded by private companies, individuals, or homeowner associations. The maintenance of these lights is the responsibility of their owners or the local power company.

Types of Streetlights

There are three main types of streetlights found along county roads:

  1. Privately Leased from PSE
    Private entities, lighting districts, individuals, or homeowner associations lease these lights from Puget Sound Energy (PSE). They are responsible for the installation and maintenance. The county does not maintain these lights.

  2. County Leased from PSE
    These streetlights are on a scheduled maintenance plan with PSE. The county pays PSE to maintain and repair them, typically at individual remote locations.

  3. County Owned and Operated
    These are streetlights installed, maintained, and repaired by the county.
    (Example: NW Bucklin Hill Rd)

Why We Don’t Put Lights Along All County Roads

The county lacks the financial resources to install, maintain, or pay for the electricity required for streetlights along all county roads. With over 900 miles of county-maintained roads and thousands of intersections, our policy is to install streetlights only in specific locations, including:

  • Signalized intersections
  • Arterials with curbs, islands, or medians within the travel way
  • As part of major construction projects in areas with high commercial development
  • Arterial locations with high accident histories, where many accidents occur at night
  • Channelized intersections (intersections with additional lanes beyond the through lanes)

Note: The county does not install or maintain streetlights on local access roads. Requests for lighting on these roads can be made directly to PSE or Peninsula Light.

Requesting Streetlights

If you believe a location meets the criteria for street lighting, please contact us at:

Email: help@kitsap1.com

Phone: 360-337-5777

Include the road name, cross street(s), your name, address, and daytime phone number. County traffic engineering staff will review the request and determine need based on available funding.

PSE Franchise Agreement

PSE has a franchise agreement with the county, allowing them to install streetlights within the right-of-way (ROW). The entity requesting the light is responsible for installation and the monthly electricity bill. While the county does not restrict streetlight placement, it is recommended to consult nearby residents to avoid light trespass (e.g., light shining into windows).

If you are interested in new street lighting in a non-county-maintained area, contact PSE:

Street Light Information Request Form

Phone: 425-456-2496

Reporting Streetlight Outages

To report a streetlight outage at a non-county-maintained location, visit PSE Streetlight Outage Reporting.