For the purposes of this chapter, the following definitions shall apply unless the context clearly indicates or requires a different meaning.
ACCENT LIGHTING. Lighting used to emphasize or draw attention to a special object or building.
AMORTIZATION. The process of allocating the cost of an asset over a period of time.
B-U-G RATING. A luminaire classification system with ratings for backlight (B), uplight (U), and glare (G).
BULB. A light-emitting device or a structure containing a light source. This includes but is not limited to a lamp.
CORRELATED COLOR TEMPERATURE (CCT). The specification of the color appearance of light emitted by a lamp, relating its color to the color of light from a reference blackbody source when heated to a particular temperature, measured in degrees Kelvin (K).
DIFFUSER. A translucent enclosure which surrounds or covers a light source and through which can be seen no semblance of the image of the light source.
DIFFUSING LENS. A translucent enclosure which surrounds a light source and through which there can be seen no semblance of an image of the light source. To provide a sufficiently wide distribution of light, a lens meeting this definition shall have a minimum cross-section, as seen from any angle, of not less than 0.125 square inch per lumen of enclosed light source emission.
DROP LENS or SAG LENS FIXTURE. A fixture, typically seen on older streetlights or parking lot lights, where the lens extends below the lowest opaque part of the fixture such that light is scattered above the horizontal plane.
EFFICACY. As an engineering term, the emission of light by a light source expressed in lumens per watt. In the absence of manufacturers’ ratings, or at the discretion of the city, the efficacy and light emission of lamps shall be calculated as follows:
(1) Common tungsten incandescent: 12 lumens per watt;
(2) Halogen incandescent: 18 lumens per watt;
(3) Metal halide: 82 lumens per watt;
(4) High pressure sodium: 82 lumens per watt;
(5) Fluorescent tubes: 75 lumens per watt; and
(6) LED: 50-150 lumens per watt.
FIXTURE. An outdoor lighting assembly containing one or more lamps and including any lenses, reflectors, and shields designed to direct the light in a defined manner.
FOOTCANDLE. As an engineering term, a unit of light intensity equal to one lumen per square foot, which applies to the brightness of light on a surface or at a point in space.
FULLY-SHIELDED FIXTURE (may also be known as a FULL HORIZONTAL CUT-OFF FIXTURE). Fixtures, as installed, that are designed or shielded in such a manner that all light rays emitted by the fixture, either directly from the lamps or indirectly from the fixture, are projected below a horizontal plane running through the lowest point on the fixture where the light is emitted.
GLARE. The effect of light shining directly in the eyes such as occurs when there is a line of sight to the light source.
INITIAL LUMENS. The manufacturer-specified number of lumens of light generated by a lamp at the beginning of its service lifetime, not accounting for losses associated with lamp age.
LAMP. A light-emitting device or a structure containing a light source. This includes but is not limited to a bulb.
LED. Light emitting diode.
LIGHT POLLUTION. Any adverse effect of artificial light including, but not limited to sky glow, light trespass, and glare. LIGHT POLLUTION washes out starlight in the night sky, disrupts ecosystems, wastes energy, compromises citizen safety and security, and is documented to have adverse effects on human health.
LIGHT SOURCE. Any device or element which emits light.
LIGHT STRING. Any number of bulbs connected with wire in a linear or two-dimensional array, not contained in the structure of a fixture, used either for illumination or decoration, and supported in any manner.
LIGHT TRESPASS. Any horizontal or vertical illumination on a property from light sources on another property that exceeds 0.1 footcandles on a residential district or 0.5 footcandles on a nonresidential district. The measurement shall be made 4 feet above the ground at a point four feet inside the property line. Additionally, if the source of the illumination, usually a light bulb, is visible beyond the property boundary, light trespass has occurred.
LIGHTING. Any source of light that does not include natural light emitted from celestial objects, fire, or other natural forms of illumination. The term includes any type of lighting, fixed or movable, designed or used for outdoor illumination of buildings or homes, including lighting for billboards, streetlights, canopies, gasoline station islands, searchlights used for advertising purposes, externally or internally illuminated on- or off-premises advertising signs, and area-type lighting. The term includes luminous elements or lighting attached to structures, poles, the earth, or any other location.
LIGHTING INSTALLATION. All outdoor lighting fixtures and light sources on a property.
LINE OF SIGHT. As it applies to the visibility of a light source, a straight unobstructed line from any point on a property four feet or more above the ground to a light source on another property.
LUMEN. As an engineering term, a unit of light flux, which applies to the amount of light emitted by a lamp.
LUMENS PER ACRE. The total number of initial lumens produced by all lamps utilized in outdoor lighting on a property divided by the number of acres, or part of an acre, with outdoor illumination on the property.
LUMINAIRE. The complete lighting unit (fixture), consisting of a lamp, or lamp and ballast(s) (when applicable), together with the parts designed to distribute the light (reflector, lens, diffuser), to position and protect the lamps, and to connect the lamps to the power supply.
NONCONFORMING LIGHTING. Outdoor lighting fixtures that do not conform to the requirements of this chapter after the date of its adoption.
NONRESIDENTIAL PROPERTY. Any property residing wholly within Commercial and Industrial Zoning Districts C1, C2, I1, or any property wholly or partially within a Mixed Use Zoning District with the property line greater than 50 feet from the nearest outer structural wall of a single- or two-family dwelling.
OUTDOOR LIGHTING. Temporary or permanent lighting that is installed, located, or used in such a manner as to cause light rays to shine outdoors. Except as exempted herein, non-residential lighting fixtures that are installed indoors that cause light to shine outdoors are considered outdoor lighting for the purposes of this chapter.
RESIDENTIAL PROPERTY. Any property residing wholly or partially within Residential Zoning Districts R1, R1a, R2, R3, and R4 or any property wholly or partially within a Mixed Use Zoning District with the property line less than 50 feet from the nearest outer structural wall of a single- or two-family dwelling.
SKY GLOW. The brightening of the nighttime sky that results from scattering and reflection of artificial light by moisture and dust particles in the atmosphere. SKY GLOW is caused by light escaping above the horizontal plane to the detriment of the night sky.
SPECULAR REFLECTOR. A reflector which has a mirror-like surface that reflects an image (no matter how imperfect or distorted) of a light source.
(Ord. 2022-08-04, passed 8-4-2022)