(a) General Requirements.
(1) Shielding. All outdoor lighting must be directed toward and confined to the ground areas. Full cut-off fixtures must be used to prevent light from projecting above a ninety degree horizontal plane (see illustration below).
Figure 19. Shielding
(2) Illumination levels. Sufficient lighting, as specified in the following table, shall be required for parking areas, walkways, driveways, building entrances, loading areas, and public common areas to ensure security of property and safety of persons.
Location | Maximum Level of Illumination (Footcandles) for the Average of the Area |
Location | Maximum Level of Illumination (Footcandles) for the Average of the Area |
Off-Street Parking Areas | 1.0 |
Off-Street Loading Areas | 1.0 |
Sidewalks | 1.0 |
Building Entrances (Frequent Use) | 5.0 |
Building Entrances (Infrequent Use) | 1.0 |
Gas Station (Directly Under Canopy) | 20.0 |
Other Outdoor Areas Not Listed | At the discretion of the Planning Director, with a maximum not to exceed 20.0 |
(3) Light trespass limits. Exterior lighting sources shall be designed, constructed, located, and maintained in a manner that minimizes light trespass onto neighboring properties. The light trespass from a property shall not exceed 0.5-foot candles at the property line, measured five feet from the ground. The light-emitting element of a light fixture shall not be directly visible from neighboring properties, as this is the primary cause of glare. All outdoor lighting in all use districts shall be directed toward and confined to the ground areas of lawns or parking lots (see illustration above).
(4) Up-lighting. All up-lighting used for the external illumination of buildings must be placed and shielded so as to not interfere with the vision of persons off the property.
(5) Height. The height of light fixtures shall be measured from the finished grade to the top of the fixture. All lighting fixtures in non-industrial districts shall not exceed twenty-five feet in height. In industrial districts, the Planning Commission may approve lighting fixtures up to a maximum height of thirty-five feet if the proposed lighting over twenty-five feet in height has no adverse impacts on the surrounding land uses and on the natural environment.
(b) Prohibited Lighting.
(1) All illumination of outdoor features of a flashing, moving, or intermittent type are prohibited.
(2) No outdoor recreational facility, public or private, shall be illuminated after 11:00 p.m., except to conclude a permitted recreational or sporting event or other activity already in progress prior to 11:00 p.m.
(3) The use of laser source light or any similar intensity light for outdoor advertising or entertainment is prohibited.
(4) The operation of searchlights for advertising purposes is prohibited.
(c) Exempt Lighting. The following exterior lighting fixtures and systems are exempt from the regulations of this section. The Zoning Administrator reserves the right to enforce standards to minimize glare, reduce light pollution, and otherwise protect the health, safety, and welfare of the public.
(1) Light fixtures placed by a governmental agency in the right-of-way.
(2) Decorative holiday lighting.
(3) Pedestrian walkway lighting.
(4) Temporary festival and civic lighting.
(5) Temporary construction or emergency lighting.
(6) Instances where federal, state, or local laws, rules, or regulations take precedence over the provisions of this section.
(d) Waiver Process. The Planning Commission has the ability to waive the lighting requirements of this section upon evidence that the required lighting would have a negative impact on neighboring properties.
(Ord. 10-2020.Passed 11-24-20.)