The following provisions shall govern the use of artificial light sources for all signs within the city.
(A) No illuminated signs shall be permitted in R-1 Districts, with the exception of institutional signs. Minimal illumination is permitted. Internally illuminated signs shall be permitted in the R-2 and R-3 Districts. Otherwise, signs illuminated with artificial light shall be permitted in accordance with the provisions of this section.
(B) All artificially illuminated signs shall use only that amount of artificial light as is needed to light the sign. Specifically, wattage and lumen output of all light sources shall be kept to the minimum necessary to accomplish the intended purpose. Glare or reflected light, which is a by-product of the light, also shall be considered artificial light, and similarly shall be kept to a minimum. Artificial light sources shall not be placed at any height taller than is essential to accomplish the intended purpose.
(C) Except for internally illuminated signs, artificial light source is fully enclosed by opaque materials and does not project beyond them, and that light may be transmitted in only one direction, except that incandescent light bulbs with a wattage of 50 watts or less need not be fully enclosed. Any diffusers must be flush mounted to the opaque fixture that no part of the light source, the diffuser itself, or the like, projects beyond the opaque portion of the fixture.
(D) All artificial light sources shall be contained in fully opaque fixtures which control the light that it is directed either straight down or straight up, or is located so close to the sign that there is no broadcast or glare of light beyond the sign. It is intended that the visibility of the light source itself be minimal.
(Ord. 199, passed 2-7-2000)