(A) Statement of purpose. The city does herein find that regulation of outdoor lighting in the city is necessary to prevent misdirected or excessive artificial light, caused by inappropriate or mishandled light fixtures that produce glare, light penetration and/or unnecessary sky glow; and to improve or maintain nighttime public safety, utility and security.
(B) General requirements. All outdoor light (greater than 3,000 initial lumens) fixtures installed and thereafter maintained on commercial, industrial or multi-family developments adjacent to or across the right-of-way from residentially used or zoned property, other than street lighting and those serving one- or two-family dwellings, shall comply with the requirements as specified below.
(1) Lighting shall be designed to minimize impact on adjacent residential property.
(2) All fixtures with output greater than 14,000 (for example, anything larger than a 175 watt high discharge lamp) initial lumens shall be fully shielded with no lenses or globes protruding below the shell of the fixture. Fixtures shall generally be parallel with the ground and shall be installed with non-adjustable mounting hardware, but may have up to a ten-degree angle if facing away from a public right-of-way or a residential property.
Figure 152.032: Lighting Fixture Design
(3) Externally illuminated building identification or other signs shall only use shielded light fixtures mounted on top of the sign structure.
(4) The use of searchlights is prohibited, other than a period of seven days from the opening of a new establishment.
(5) Exemption: airport lighting and sports lighting by the city, schools or other public agencies shall be exempt from these general requirements.
(6) All outdoor lighting fixtures, including display lighting, but excluding signs, shall be turned off after close-of-business, unless needed for safety or security, in which case the lighting shall be reduced to a minimum level necessary. Lighting of signs is addressed in §§ 152.180 through 152.191, 152.205 through 152.220 and 152.230 through 152.233.
(C) Light penetration. All outdoor lighting fixtures installed and thereafter maintained on commercial, industrial or multi-family developments adjacent to or across the right-of-way from residentially used or zoned property, other than street lighting and those serving one- or two-family dwellings, shall be designed, installed and maintained to prevent light penetration. At the property line, penetration from light fixtures shall not exceed one footcandle measured on the ground.
(D) Variance. Applicants may apply for a variance from these outdoor lighting regulations as detailed in § 152.019.
(E) Plan submission requirements. The following information shall be submitted with a request for a building permit or an electrical permit for new construction or remodeling, or when an outdoor light fixture is replaced with a different fixture:
(1) Description and location of outdoor light fixtures including component specifications such as lamps, reflectors, optics, angle of cutoff, supports, poles and include manufacturer’s catalog cuts; and
(2) The footcandle level at the property line measured at ten-foot intervals and on a ten-foot grid throughout the lighted area for outdoor display areas or under a canopy.
(F) Measurements. Measurement of light levels shall be accomplished as follows.
(1) Metering equipment. Lighting levels shall be measured in footcandles with a direct-reading, portable light meter. The meter shall read within an accuracy of plus or minus 5%. It shall have been tested, calibrated and certified by an independent commercial photographic laboratory or the manufacturer.
(2) Method of measurement. The meter sensor shall be mounted not more than six inches above ground level in a horizontal position at the property line. Readings shall be taken only after the cell has been exposed long enough to provide a constant reading. Measurements shall be taken in locations free of shadows.
(G) Light levels. Light levels for various lighting applications shall be appropriate for the given application. In addition, the following standards shall apply:
(1) Outdoor display lots. All display lot lighting, including auto dealerships or other outdoor sales areas, shall utilize fully shielded luminaries that are installed in a fashion that maintains the fully shielded characteristics. The light level used for illuminating outdoor displays shall not exceed 30 footcandles; and
(2) Service station/gas pump canopies. All luminaries mounted on or recessed into the lower surface of service station canopies shall be fully shielded and utilize flat lenses. The light level used for illuminating service station canopies shall not exceed 40 footcandles in the B1, B2, B3, M1, M2 or CPD Districts and shall not exceed 20 footcandles in all other districts.
(H) Grandfathering of nonconforming luminaires. Luminaires in place prior to June 17, 2002 shall be exempt from these regulations. The exempt luminaires may be replaced with a similar kind of luminaire unless more than 50% of the similar luminaries on the same premises are being replaced. In this case all the replacement luminaries on the premises shall meet the standards of this chapter.
(I) Administration. The Community Development Department is hereby empowered and directed to administer and enforce the provisions of this section relating to outdoor light control for commercial, industrial and multi-family development as well as public buildings.
(Ord. 10-3277, § 1-3.3, passed 1-4-2010; Ord. 17-3538, passed 2-6-2017; Ord. 20-3609, passed 4-6-2020)