(A) General lighting standards.
(1) Intent. These exterior lighting standards protect the public safety and the general welfare of the community by reducing unsafe and unpleasant lighting conditions, such as light trespass and light pollution, while also promoting the safe and efficient movement of vehicles and pedestrians and the security of local properties.
(2) Applicability; general exterior lighting standards applicable to all new or replaced lighting in all zoning districts. The following shall be prepared by a certified lighting specialist:
(a) A photometric plan, with fixture details, with each application for an improvement location permit that requires a development plan; and
(b) A photometric report prior to issuance of the occupancy permit that verifies compliance with the lighting requirements of this section.
(3) General requirements. All exterior lighting shall conform with the following general requirements:
(a) Mounting height measurement. The mounting height of all light fixtures shall be defined as the vertical distance between the grade level of the surface being illuminated and the top of the lighting fixture (luminaire).
(b) Use of timers and dimmers. Wherever practicable, exterior lighting shall include timers, dimmers, and/or sensors to reduce overall energy consumption and eliminate unneeded lighting.
(c) Electrical service. The electrical service to all outdoor lighting fixtures shall be buried underground unless the fixtures arc mounted directly on buildings or utility poles.
(d) Holiday lighting. Seasonal holiday lighting shall be exempt from the provisions of this section.
(e) Light trespass. Light trespass into the night sky and onto neighboring properties shall be minimized with the use of dark sky approved fixtures and appropriate lighting design.
(B) Lighting requirements.
(1) Lighting shall be designed to provide the minimum lighting necessary to ensure adequate vision, comfort, and safety for travel ways and parking areas, while avoiding glare and direct illumination of adjacent properties or streets. These lighting requirements shall apply also to interior drives and other areas on the property used by vehicles.
(2) Light fixtures shall be:
(a) Full cutoff when adjacent to a residential use, including multi-family and approved as a “dark sky” fixture; and
(b) Full cutoff or cutoff fixture when adjacent to industrial, commercial, or institutional uses, and shall be approved as a "dark sky" fixture.
(3) Lighting requirements.
(a) Maximum color temperature of light: 3,500 Kelvin.
(b) All light sources for commercial, institutional, and industrial uses that do not have 24-hour operating hours shall be dimmable and connected with a timer and motion sensor.
(c) Maximum foot candles at the site boundary for all light sources, including but not limited to parking lots, display lots, building canopies, monument and building signs, building wash and accent, recreation field, and security:
1. Adjacent to industrial, commercial, or institutional uses: 0.5 foot candles.
2. Adjacent to agricultural or residential uses, including multi-family: 0.2 foot candles.
(d) The minimum mounting height for street and parking lot light fixtures shall be as follows:
1. Twenty feet within agricultural, single-family residential, and multi-family residential use sites.
2. Twenty-five feet within commercial and institutional use sites.
3. Thirty feet within industrial use sites.
(C) Canopy requirements. Lighting levels under canopies for gas stations, convenience stores, drive-up banking centers, and similar conditions shall be adequate to facilitate the activities taking place on the property and shall not be used for the purpose of illuminating signs, Such lighting shall conform with the following requirements:
(1) All light fixtures mounted on the canopies shall be recessed so that the lens cover is recessed or flush with the bottom surface (ceiling) of the canopy; or
(2) The lighting of the canopy shall use indirect lighting through which light is beamed upward and then reflected down from the underside of the canopy by light fixtures that are shielded so that illumination is focused exclusively on the underside of the canopy.
(3) Lights shall not be mounted on the top or sides of any canopy and the sides of the canopy shall not be illuminated. In no instances shall this be interpreted as prohibiting the placement of signs on the canopy which are illuminated consistent with the standards for sign illumination in this section.
(D) Lighting of exterior display/sales areas. Lighting levels on exterior display/sales areas shall be adequate to facilitate the activities taking place in such locations. Such lighting shall conform with the following requirements:
(1) All lighting fixtures used to illuminate exterior display/sales areas shall be cut-off or full cut-off fixtures (luminaires) focused directly downward onto the display/sales area. Such light fixtures shall be located, mounted, aimed, and shielded so that direct light is not cast onto adjacent streets or properties.
(2) All lighting fixtures and mounting poles shall be located within the areas being illuminated.
(E) Lighting of outdoor athletic/performance facilities. Lighting for all outdoor athletic and performance facilities and events shall provide adequate light for the event or facility while minimizing light pollution and the illumination of adjacent streets and properties.
(1) Lighting fixtures for the playing fields and/or performance areas shall be specifically mounted and aimed so that their beams fall directly within the play/performance area and its immediate surroundings and does not spill onto adjacent streets or properties.
(2) The use of spotlights and/or floodlights to illuminate the play/performance area shall be permitted; however, each facility shall be designed and constructed with a dual lighting system which permits the main lighting for the event (spotlighting, floodlighting, and the like) to be turned off, with an alternate low level lighting system used for clean-up, night maintenance and other activities.
(F) Security lighting. Security lighting shall be coordinated with other lighting on the property and shall otherwise conform with the following requirements:
(1) Nonresidential areas.
(a) Shall be shielded and specifically aimed so that illumination is directed only to the intended area;
(b) The light source for any security lighting shall include shields that prevent their light source or lens from being visible from adjacent properties and/or streets;
(c) Security lighting fixtures may be mounted on poles located no further than ten feet from the perimeter of the area intended to be illuminated.
(2) Residential areas.
(a) Security lighting fixtures in residential areas shall make use of indirect and reflected lighting techniques to provide soft lighting under canopies, entry porches, or soffits.
(b) The light source shall include shields that prevent the light source or lens from being visible from adjacent properties and/or streets.
(G) Lighting of building façades. Building façades may be illuminated, subject to the following requirements:
(1) Light fixtures including wall packs and decorative lighting shall be located, aimed, and shielded so that light is directed only onto the building façade.
(2) Lighting fixtures shall not be directed toward adjacent streets or roads.
(3) Lighting fixtures shall be designed to wash the façade of the building with light (rather than providing a spot or floodlight affect) and may be directed upward or downward onto the façade.
(4) Buildings located within or adjacent to residential use sites shall only provide fixtures that aim down for building wash.
(5) Exterior façade lighting shall be contained on the building façade or in the landscape areas adjacent to the building and shall focus on entries and architectural features.
(H) Illuminated signs. External lighting fixtures illuminating signs shall be located, aimed, and shielded so that light is directed onto only the sign face, with minimal light spillage. Lighting fixtures shall not be aimed toward adjacent streets, roads, or properties. In no instance shall this section be interpreted as prohibiting the use of neon signs.
(Ord. 2007-1B, passed 2-5-07; Am. Ord. 2022-12F, passed 12-20-22)
Cross reference:
Sign illumination, see § 156.085 et seq.