diff --git a/include/mbgl/style/conversion/light.hpp b/include/mbgl/style/conversion/light.hpp
index 30bb90603..ba162516c 100644
--- a/include/mbgl/style/conversion/light.hpp
+++ b/include/mbgl/style/conversion/light.hpp
@@ -113,7 +113,7 @@ public:
                 return {};
             }
         }
-        return { light };
+        return { std::move(light) };
     };
 };
 
diff --git a/include/mbgl/style/light.hpp b/include/mbgl/style/light.hpp
index 7942d0d23..8212a58dc 100644
--- a/include/mbgl/style/light.hpp
+++ b/include/mbgl/style/light.hpp
@@ -5,15 +5,19 @@
 #include <mbgl/style/transition_options.hpp>
 #include <mbgl/style/types.hpp>
 
+#include <memory>
+
 namespace mbgl {
-
-class RenderLight;
-
 namespace style {
 
 class Light {
 public:
 
+    class Impl;
+
+    Light();
+    ~Light();
+
     static LightAnchorType getDefaultAnchor();
     PropertyValue<LightAnchorType> getAnchor() const;
     void setAnchor(PropertyValue<LightAnchorType>);
@@ -38,10 +42,7 @@ public:
     void setIntensityTransition(const TransitionOptions&);
     TransitionOptions getIntensityTransition() const;
 
-private:
-    IndexedTuple<LightProperties, LightProperties> properties;
-
-    friend class mbgl::RenderLight;
+    std::shared_ptr<Impl> impl;
 };
 
 } // namespace style
diff --git a/include/mbgl/style/light.hpp.ejs b/include/mbgl/style/light.hpp.ejs
index 40f85b66b..601e0bd41 100644
--- a/include/mbgl/style/light.hpp.ejs
+++ b/include/mbgl/style/light.hpp.ejs
@@ -8,15 +8,19 @@
 #include <mbgl/style/transition_options.hpp>
 #include <mbgl/style/types.hpp>
 
+#include <memory>
+
 namespace mbgl {
-
-class RenderLight;
-
 namespace style {
 
 class Light {
 public:
 
+    class Impl;
+
+    Light();
+    ~Light();
+
 <% for (const property of properties) { -%>
     static <%- evaluatedType(property) %> getDefault<%- camelize(property.name) %>();
     <%- propertyValueType(property) %> get<%- camelize(property.name) %>() const;
@@ -25,10 +29,7 @@ public:
     TransitionOptions get<%- camelize(property.name) %>Transition() const;
 
 <% } -%>
-private:
-    IndexedTuple<LightProperties, LightProperties> properties;
-
-    friend class mbgl::RenderLight;
+    std::shared_ptr<Impl> impl;
 };
 
 } // namespace style
diff --git a/src/mbgl/renderer/render_light.cpp b/src/mbgl/renderer/render_light.cpp
index faf89bf9e..134e1829e 100644
--- a/src/mbgl/renderer/render_light.cpp
+++ b/src/mbgl/renderer/render_light.cpp
@@ -2,12 +2,21 @@
 
 namespace mbgl {
 
-RenderLight::RenderLight(const style::Light light_)
-        : light(std::move(light_)) {
+RenderLight::RenderLight(std::shared_ptr<const style::Light::Impl> impl_)
+        : impl(std::move(impl_)) {
+}
+
+RenderLight::RenderLight(std::shared_ptr<const style::Light::Impl> impl_, const TransitioningLight transitioning_)
+        : impl(std::move(impl_))
+        , transitioning(transitioning_) {
+}
+
+std::unique_ptr<RenderLight> RenderLight::copy(std::shared_ptr<const style::Light::Impl> impl_) const {
+    return std::make_unique<RenderLight>(std::move(impl_), transitioning);
 }
 
 void RenderLight::transition(const CascadeParameters& parameters) {
-    transitioning = TransitioningLight(light.properties, std::move(transitioning), parameters);
+    transitioning = TransitioningLight(impl->properties, std::move(transitioning), parameters);
 }
 
 void RenderLight::evaluate(const PropertyEvaluationParameters& parameters) {
diff --git a/src/mbgl/renderer/render_light.hpp b/src/mbgl/renderer/render_light.hpp
index 1a813ab1f..275f3ae8b 100644
--- a/src/mbgl/renderer/render_light.hpp
+++ b/src/mbgl/renderer/render_light.hpp
@@ -1,12 +1,15 @@
 #pragma once
 
-#include <mbgl/style/light.hpp>
+#include <mbgl/style/light_impl.hpp>
+#include <mbgl/style/light_properties.hpp>
 #include <mbgl/renderer/transitioning_property.hpp>
 #include <mbgl/renderer/cascade_parameters.hpp>
 #include <mbgl/renderer/property_evaluator.hpp>
 #include <mbgl/renderer/property_evaluation_parameters.hpp>
 #include <mbgl/util/ignore.hpp>
 
+#include <memory>
+
 namespace mbgl {
 
 template <class TypeList>
@@ -71,7 +74,14 @@ using EvaluatedLight     = Evaluated<style::LightProperties>;
 
 class RenderLight {
 public:
-    RenderLight(const style::Light);
+    RenderLight(std::shared_ptr<const style::Light::Impl>);
+
+    // Creates a copy intitalized with previous transitioning light
+    RenderLight(std::shared_ptr<const style::Light::Impl>, const TransitioningLight);
+
+    // creates a copy initialized with previous transitioning
+    // values
+    std::unique_ptr<RenderLight> copy(std::shared_ptr<const style::Light::Impl>) const;
 
     void transition(const CascadeParameters&);
     void evaluate(const PropertyEvaluationParameters&);
@@ -79,10 +89,12 @@ public:
 
     const EvaluatedLight& getEvaluated() const;
 
+    const std::shared_ptr<const style::Light::Impl> impl;
+
 private:
+
     TransitioningLight transitioning;
     EvaluatedLight evaluated;
-    style::Light light;
 };
 
 } // namespace mbgl
diff --git a/src/mbgl/style/light.cpp b/src/mbgl/style/light.cpp
index 0a9cbbee9..b54920713 100644
--- a/src/mbgl/style/light.cpp
+++ b/src/mbgl/style/light.cpp
@@ -7,30 +7,32 @@
 namespace mbgl {
 namespace style {
 
+Light::Light()
+        : impl(std::make_unique<Impl>()) {
+}
+
+Light::~Light() = default;
+
 LightAnchorType Light::getDefaultAnchor() {
     return LightAnchor::defaultValue();
 }
 
 PropertyValue<LightAnchorType> Light::getAnchor() const {
-    return properties.get<LightAnchor>().value;
+    return impl->properties.template get<LightAnchor>().value;
 }
 
 void Light::setAnchor(PropertyValue<LightAnchorType> property) {
-    properties.get<LightAnchor>().value = property;
-    if (observer) {
-        observer->onLightChanged(*this);
-    }
+    impl->properties.template get<LightAnchor>().value = property;
+    impl->observer->onLightChanged(*this);
 }
 
 void Light::setAnchorTransition(const TransitionOptions& transition) {
-    properties.get<LightAnchor>().transition = transition;
-    if (observer) {
-        observer->onLightChanged(*this);
-    }
+    impl->properties.template get<LightAnchor>().transition = transition;
+    impl->observer->onLightChanged(*this);
 }
 
 TransitionOptions Light::getAnchorTransition() const {
-    return properties.get<LightAnchor>().transition;
+    return impl->properties.template get<LightAnchor>().transition;
 }
 
 Position Light::getDefaultPosition() {
@@ -38,25 +40,21 @@ Position Light::getDefaultPosition() {
 }
 
 PropertyValue<Position> Light::getPosition() const {
-    return properties.get<LightPosition>().value;
+    return impl->properties.template get<LightPosition>().value;
 }
 
 void Light::setPosition(PropertyValue<Position> property) {
-    properties.get<LightPosition>().value = property;
-    if (observer) {
-        observer->onLightChanged(*this);
-    }
+    impl->properties.template get<LightPosition>().value = property;
+    impl->observer->onLightChanged(*this);
 }
 
 void Light::setPositionTransition(const TransitionOptions& transition) {
-    properties.get<LightPosition>().transition = transition;
-    if (observer) {
-        observer->onLightChanged(*this);
-    }
+    impl->properties.template get<LightPosition>().transition = transition;
+    impl->observer->onLightChanged(*this);
 }
 
 TransitionOptions Light::getPositionTransition() const {
-    return properties.get<LightPosition>().transition;
+    return impl->properties.template get<LightPosition>().transition;
 }
 
 Color Light::getDefaultColor() {
@@ -64,25 +62,21 @@ Color Light::getDefaultColor() {
 }
 
 PropertyValue<Color> Light::getColor() const {
-    return properties.get<LightColor>().value;
+    return impl->properties.template get<LightColor>().value;
 }
 
 void Light::setColor(PropertyValue<Color> property) {
-    properties.get<LightColor>().value = property;
-    if (observer) {
-        observer->onLightChanged(*this);
-    }
+    impl->properties.template get<LightColor>().value = property;
+    impl->observer->onLightChanged(*this);
 }
 
 void Light::setColorTransition(const TransitionOptions& transition) {
-    properties.get<LightColor>().transition = transition;
-    if (observer) {
-        observer->onLightChanged(*this);
-    }
+    impl->properties.template get<LightColor>().transition = transition;
+    impl->observer->onLightChanged(*this);
 }
 
 TransitionOptions Light::getColorTransition() const {
-    return properties.get<LightColor>().transition;
+    return impl->properties.template get<LightColor>().transition;
 }
 
 float Light::getDefaultIntensity() {
@@ -90,26 +84,23 @@ float Light::getDefaultIntensity() {
 }
 
 PropertyValue<float> Light::getIntensity() const {
-    return properties.get<LightIntensity>().value;
+    return impl->properties.template get<LightIntensity>().value;
 }
 
 void Light::setIntensity(PropertyValue<float> property) {
-    properties.get<LightIntensity>().value = property;
-    if (observer) {
-        observer->onLightChanged(*this);
-    }
+    impl->properties.template get<LightIntensity>().value = property;
+    impl->observer->onLightChanged(*this);
 }
 
 void Light::setIntensityTransition(const TransitionOptions& transition) {
-    properties.get<LightIntensity>().transition = transition;
-    if (observer) {
-        observer->onLightChanged(*this);
-    }
+    impl->properties.template get<LightIntensity>().transition = transition;
+    impl->observer->onLightChanged(*this);
 }
 
 TransitionOptions Light::getIntensityTransition() const {
-    return properties.get<LightIntensity>().transition;
+    return impl->properties.template get<LightIntensity>().transition;
 }
 
+
 } // namespace style
 } // namespace mbgl
diff --git a/src/mbgl/style/light.cpp.ejs b/src/mbgl/style/light.cpp.ejs
index 7d2e0ecc1..c82c65c10 100644
--- a/src/mbgl/style/light.cpp.ejs
+++ b/src/mbgl/style/light.cpp.ejs
@@ -10,33 +10,36 @@
 namespace mbgl {
 namespace style {
 
+Light::Light()
+        : impl(std::make_unique<Impl>()) {
+}
+
+Light::~Light() = default;
+
 <% for (const property of properties) { -%>
 <%- evaluatedType(property) %> Light::getDefault<%- camelize(property.name) %>() {
     return Light<%- camelize(property.name) %>::defaultValue();
 }
 
 <%- propertyValueType(property) %> Light::get<%- camelize(property.name) %>() const {
-    return properties.get<Light<%- camelize(property.name) %>>().value;
+    return impl->properties.template get<Light<%- camelize(property.name) %>>().value;
 }
 
 void Light::set<%- camelize(property.name) %>(<%- propertyValueType(property) %> property) {
-    properties.get<Light<%- camelize(property.name) %>>().value = property;
-    if (observer) {
-        observer->onLightChanged(*this);
-    }
+    impl->properties.template get<Light<%- camelize(property.name) %>>().value = property;
+    impl->observer->onLightChanged(*this);
 }
 
 void Light::set<%- camelize(property.name) %>Transition(const TransitionOptions& transition) {
-    properties.get<Light<%- camelize(property.name) %>>().transition = transition;
-    if (observer) {
-        observer->onLightChanged(*this);
-    }
+    impl->properties.template get<Light<%- camelize(property.name) %>>().transition = transition;
+    impl->observer->onLightChanged(*this);
 }
 
 TransitionOptions Light::get<%- camelize(property.name) %>Transition() const {
-    return properties.get<Light<%- camelize(property.name) %>>().transition;
+    return impl->properties.template get<Light<%- camelize(property.name) %>>().transition;
 }
 
 <% } -%>
+
 } // namespace style
 } // namespace mbgl
diff --git a/src/mbgl/style/light_impl.cpp b/src/mbgl/style/light_impl.cpp
new file mode 100644
index 000000000..e0ab1176e
--- /dev/null
+++ b/src/mbgl/style/light_impl.cpp
@@ -0,0 +1,11 @@
+#include <mbgl/style/light_impl.hpp>
+
+namespace mbgl {
+namespace style {
+
+void Light::Impl::setObserver(LightObserver* observer_) {
+    observer = observer_;
+}
+
+} // namespace style
+} // namespace mbgl
diff --git a/src/mbgl/style/light_impl.hpp b/src/mbgl/style/light_impl.hpp
new file mode 100644
index 000000000..b4fd88674
--- /dev/null
+++ b/src/mbgl/style/light_impl.hpp
@@ -0,0 +1,20 @@
+#pragma once
+
+#include <mbgl/style/light_properties.hpp>
+#include <mbgl/style/light_observer.hpp>
+
+namespace mbgl {
+namespace style {
+
+class Light::Impl {
+public:
+
+    LightObserver nullObserver;
+    LightObserver* observer = &nullObserver;
+    void setObserver(LightObserver*);
+
+    IndexedTuple<LightProperties, LightProperties> properties;
+};
+
+} // namespace style
+} // namespace mbgl
diff --git a/src/mbgl/style/light_observer.hpp b/src/mbgl/style/light_observer.hpp
new file mode 100644
index 000000000..751a84850
--- /dev/null
+++ b/src/mbgl/style/light_observer.hpp
@@ -0,0 +1,16 @@
+#pragma once
+
+#include <mbgl/style/light.hpp>
+
+namespace mbgl {
+namespace style {
+
+class LightObserver {
+public:
+    virtual ~LightObserver() = default;
+
+    virtual void onLightChanged(const Light&) {}
+};
+
+} // namespace style
+} // namespace mbgl
diff --git a/src/mbgl/style/parser.cpp b/src/mbgl/style/parser.cpp
index c407e438f..fc3ccf410 100644
--- a/src/mbgl/style/parser.cpp
+++ b/src/mbgl/style/parser.cpp
@@ -120,7 +120,7 @@ void Parser::parseLight(const JSValue& value) {
         return;
     }
 
-    light = *converted;
+    light = std::move(*converted);
 }
 
 void Parser::parseSources(const JSValue& value) {
diff --git a/src/mbgl/style/style.cpp b/src/mbgl/style/style.cpp
index 080911b74..4b694917c 100644
--- a/src/mbgl/style/style.cpp
+++ b/src/mbgl/style/style.cpp
@@ -59,10 +59,11 @@ Style::Style(Scheduler& scheduler_, FileSource& fileSource_, float pixelRatio)
       spriteAtlas(std::make_unique<SpriteAtlas>(Size{ 1024, 1024 }, pixelRatio)),
       lineAtlas(std::make_unique<LineAtlas>(Size{ 256, 512 })),
       light(std::make_unique<Light>()),
-      renderLight(std::make_unique<RenderLight>(*light)),
+      renderLight(std::make_unique<RenderLight>(light->impl)),
       observer(&nullObserver) {
     glyphAtlas->setObserver(this);
     spriteAtlas->setObserver(this);
+    light->impl->setObserver(this);
 }
 
 Style::~Style() {
@@ -78,6 +79,7 @@ Style::~Style() {
 
     glyphAtlas->setObserver(nullptr);
     spriteAtlas->setObserver(nullptr);
+    light->impl->setObserver(nullptr);
 }
 
 bool Style::addClass(const std::string& className) {
@@ -313,7 +315,13 @@ void Style::removeRenderLayer(const std::string& id) {
 
 void Style::setLight(std::unique_ptr<Light> light_) {
     light = std::move(light_);
-    renderLight = std::make_unique<RenderLight>(*light);
+    light->impl->setObserver(this);
+
+    // Copy renderlight to preserve the initialised
+    // transitioning light properties
+    renderLight = renderLight->copy(light->impl);
+
+    onLightChanged(*light);
 }
 
 Light* Style::getLight() const {
@@ -761,6 +769,10 @@ void Style::onLayerLayoutPropertyChanged(Layer& layer, const char * property) {
         : Update::Repaint);
 }
 
+void Style::onLightChanged(const Light&) {
+    observer->onUpdate(Update::Classes | Update::RecalculateStyle);
+}
+
 void Style::dumpDebugLogs() const {
     for (const auto& source : sources) {
         source->baseImpl->dumpDebugLogs();
diff --git a/src/mbgl/style/style.hpp b/src/mbgl/style/style.hpp
index 2756be1ed..7d235dc66 100644
--- a/src/mbgl/style/style.hpp
+++ b/src/mbgl/style/style.hpp
@@ -5,6 +5,7 @@
 #include <mbgl/style/source_observer.hpp>
 #include <mbgl/renderer/render_source_observer.hpp>
 #include <mbgl/style/layer_observer.hpp>
+#include <mbgl/style/light_observer.hpp>
 #include <mbgl/style/update_batch.hpp>
 #include <mbgl/renderer/render_layer.hpp>
 #include <mbgl/renderer/render_light.hpp>
@@ -48,6 +49,7 @@ class Style : public GlyphAtlasObserver,
               public SourceObserver,
               public RenderSourceObserver,
               public LayerObserver,
+              public LightObserver,
               public util::noncopyable {
 public:
     Style(Scheduler&, FileSource&, float pixelRatio);
@@ -169,6 +171,9 @@ private:
     void onLayerDataDrivenPaintPropertyChanged(Layer&) override;
     void onLayerLayoutPropertyChanged(Layer&, const char *) override;
 
+    // LightObserver implementation.
+    void onLightChanged(const Light&) override;
+
     Observer nullObserver;
     Observer* observer = &nullObserver;