A. Intent: These standards shall serve to manage and/or limit outdoor lighting in order to mitigate against light pollution, light trespass, and glare; to conserve energy and protect natural resources; and to facilitate the safety and security of persons and property.
B. Applicability:
1. The lighting standards herein shall apply to the following:
a. All exterior lighting fixtures within the city of Belgrade, installed after the effective date of this code, regardless of zoning classification or ownership, shall comply with the requirements of this chapter unless expressly exempted herein.
b. Streetlights installed prior to adopting the ordinance from which this title was derived shall be replaced with a compliant luminaire when the streetlight becomes inoperable.
c. All exterior lighting fixtures established or permitted as of the date of this code shall be brought into conformance with the standards herein within one year for multifamily, commercial or industrial properties and three years for residential properties.
C. Exemptions:
1. The following types of lighting shall be exempt from the standards of this chapter:
a. Federally-funded and state- funded roadway construction projects shall be considered exempt from the ordinance from which this title was derived only to the extent necessary to comply with state and federal requirements.
b. Full cutoff street lighting, which is part of a federal, state, or municipal installation.
c. Holiday lighting and other seasonal decorations shall not require shielding provided they are not in use for more than 75 consecutive days.
d. Specialized lighting necessary for safety, such as navigation or runway lighting of airports, temporary lighting associated with emergency operations, roadway hazard warnings, etc.
e. Traffic control signals and devices.
f. Sports field lighting, subject to the provisions contained in the general standards.
g. Lighting of the United States flag pursuant to U.S. Flag Code guidelines.
h. Motion-activated, intermittent home security lighting within residential zones.
D. General Lighting Standards: The following general standards shall apply to all outdoor lighting fixtures and accent lighting unless otherwise exempt:
1. All light trespass shall be prohibited.
2. All area lights, including streetlights and parking area lighting, shall be full or semi cut-off fixtures.
3. In all zones, except residential districts, accent lighting shall be directed downward onto the illuminated object or area and not upward into the sky or onto adjacent properties. Direct accent light emissions shall not be visible above the roofline, building, or other associated structures.
4. Canopy lights shall be recessed sufficiently so that no light spills onto adjacent property or rights-of-way.
5. Illumination levels and uniformity ratios shall be in accordance with current recommended standards set by the Illumination Engineering Society of North America (IESNA), and not exceeded.
6. The developer or builder shall be required to verify to the city in writing that all outdoor lights were installed as described on the approved photometric plans.
7. All non-essential exterior commercial and residential lighting shall be turned off after business hours or when not in use.
8. Outdoor lighting fixtures and accent lighting shall not illuminate non- navigable public bodies of water.
9. All radio, communication, and navigation towers that require lights shall have dual lighting capabilities. For daytime, a white strobe light may be used, and for nighttime, only red lights shall be used.
10. Uplighting is prohibited, except in cases where the fixture is shielded by a roof overhang or similar structural shield from the sky. A licensed architect or engineer has stamped a prepared lighting plan that ensures that the light fixture(s) will not cause light to extend beyond the structural shield except as specifically permitted in this chapter.
11. New and existing service stations shall have lighting levels no greater than thirty footcandles, as set by the IESNA for urban service stations.
Existing service stations shall comply with this standard within one year of the effective date of this code.
a. Illumination for outdoor recreation facilities shall conform to the shielding requirements of this chapter, except when such shielding would interfere with the intended activity (including but not limited to baseball, softball, and football). For such facilities, partially shielded luminaries shall be permitted and shall operate only with a permit from the city, recognizing that steps have been taken to minimize glare and light trespass. Where fully shielded luminaries are required, the light fixtures shall conform to light trespass requirements. Illumination for outdoor recreation facilities shall be turned off between 10:00 p.m. and 6:00 a.m. (Ord. 2023-7, 7-17-2023)