(A) Illumination of signage.
(1) Externally-illuminated signage.
(a) All lighting of externally-illuminated outdoor signs shall be shielded so as to minimize glare for passing motorists, bicyclists, or pedestrians;
(b) All lighting of externally-illuminated outdoor signs (whether free-standing or building- mounted, on-premise or off-premise) shall be directed downward toward the sign.
(2) Internally-illuminated signage.
(a) Background and letters. Internally-illuminated outdoor signs (whether free-standing or building-mounted, on-premise or off-premise) shall be constructed in such a way as to minimize the amount of unshielded light released off the property or into the night sky, and with an opaque background and translucent letters and symbols or with a dark colored background and lighter letters and symbols.
1. No more than 33% of such signage (primarily lettering) may be white or other light color.
2. Internally-illuminated signs with predominantly white or other light-colored backgrounds are specifically prohibited.
3. Reverse channel signage consisting of opaque letters and symbols, typically mounted several inches in front of an opaque surface such as a wall and illuminated by bulbs or other light emitters embedded within the letters or symbols themselves such that the letters and symbols stand out in front of the reflected light are permissible and encouraged.
(b) Logos. Nonconforming internally-illuminated signs that are part of a registered logo for a business or organization with operations in the city and at least one other location are allowed provided there is not another version of the logo sign that would, if installed, be compliant with the other provisions of this chapter.
1. Bulbs, LEDs, or other light emitters within signs so exempted shall be the lowest intensity needed for the sign to be recognizable for up to one-half mile from its location. The total lumens emitted from the logo sign shall count against the allowed lumens per acre limitation for the property.
2. A company’s decision to change a conforming logo that is installed on the company’s facility or signage to one that is nonconforming shall not be sufficient justification to change the displayed logo.
(c) Changeable copy signs. Unshielded, internally-illuminated signs with changeable copy requiring manual change at the physical location of the sign are allowed provided such signs otherwise conform to the city’s signage ordinance (Chapter 152).
1. Such signs may have an off-white or other light-colored background such that the changeable letters or symbols are clearly visible, but the use of a white background is specifically prohibited.
2. Such signs shall use the minimum amount of light necessary to ensure the changeable letters or symbols are clearly readable from a distance of 100 feet.
3. The total lumens emitted from the sign shall count against the allowed lumens per net acre cap for the property.
(d) Electronic changeable copy signs. Non-governmental electronic changeable copy or changeable image signs or displays that are similar in design to large televisions or computer monitors are specifically prohibited except as further noted in this chapter.
(e) Electronic pricing signs. Unshielded electronic signs at service stations within the city limits displaying fuel prices are prohibited until such time as all outdoor lighting on the property is brought into compliance with the lumens per acre limitation requirements of this chapter.
(f) Open for business signs. Unshielded electronic or neon signs displaying messages such as “Open” are allowed on the premise of the business provided such signs otherwise conform to the city’s signage ordinance.
(g) Internally-illuminated panels. Internally-illuminated panels such as are commonly seen on the sides of service station canopies, for purposes of this chapter, shall be considered signage. Such panels may be unshielded provided the intensity of the illumination does not cause glare for motorists, bicyclists, or pedestrians. Panels shall not be of a color that is white, off-white, pale yellow, or other pale, light hued color. The total lumens emitted by the panels shall count against the allowed lumens per acre limitation for the property.
(3) Lighting curfew for signage. Illumination of all on-premise outdoor advertising signage, both externally and internally-illuminated, shall be turned off by the later of closing time or 10:00 p.m., provided, however, that such signs may be turned back on prior to sunrise, but no more than one hour prior to opening.
(4) Neon lighting. Because it is virtually impossible to shield, the city discourages the use of neon lighting or lighting produced by other gases in similar tubes or lighting that is similar in effect such as LEDs in an elongated plastic tube or covering. However, such lighting is permitted provided it otherwise conforms to the city’s signage ordinance.
(a) Neon lighting or its equivalent in colors of white, pale yellow, or similar pale, light hued color is prohibited.
(b) All fixtures using neon lighting or its equivalent shall be of an intensity that will minimize glare for motorists, bicyclists, or pedestrians; and, to the greatest extent possible, shall be mounted in such a way as to limit light from trespassing off the property or from escaping above the horizontal plane to pollute the night sky.
(c) The lumens produced by neon lighting shall count towards the total lumen cap for the property.
(B) Canopies.
(1) Light trespass. Because of their common proximity to public rights-of-way, lighting of canopies typical of service stations and drive-through facilities may produce light emissions that trespasses onto public rights-of-way provided that no light is allowed to escape above the horizontal plane to pollute the night sky and that glare for motorists, bicyclists, and pedestrians is minimized. Light trespass onto private property is prohibited.
(2) Design. It is strongly encouraged that all such canopy lighting fixtures be embedded within the canopy itself with no need of further shielding.
(3) Intensity. Canopy lighting shall be of an intensity that provides safe and efficient use of the facility but shall not be so bright as to cause glare to the extent that it is a safety hazard for passing motorists, bicyclists, or pedestrians.
(4) Correlated color temperature. All canopy lighting shall have a correlated color temperature of 3,000 degrees Kelvin or less.
(5) Over-lighting. Over-lighting of canopy areas for purposes of advertising is specifically prohibited.
(C) Streetlights.
(1) Design. New streetlights installed on city rights-of-way or Texas Department of Transportation rights-of-way in the city limits shall be full cut-off fixtures and designed, mounted, and/or shielded so as to direct the light onto the public right-of-way and not onto private property.
(2) Adaptive controls. New city-owned street lighting installed after the effective date of this chapter, other than streetlights at the intersection of roadways, to the greatest extent possible, shall utilize adaptive controls such as half-night photocells or timers to turn the streetlights off halfway between dusk and dawn or timers that reduce or eliminate light emitted after a set time. Emerging technology such as passive infrared sensors that permit streetlights to be off except when movement is detected in the area is encouraged.
(3) Correlated color temperature. To the extent government-owned streetlights are repaired or replaced with LED or other light emitting elements, the light produced by the LEDs or other element shall not exceed 3,000 degrees Kelvin.
(4) Repair and replacement. Notwithstanding other provisions of this chapter, existing city-owned streetlights or streetlights owned by other entities but installed on city rights-of-way or Texas Department of Transportation rights-of way in the city limits shall be brought into compliance in the normal course of streetlight repair and replacement.
(D) Outdoor recreation.
(1) Design and shielding. Lighting for all playing fields, playing courts, swimming pools, skateboard parks, rodeo arenas, and similar recreational facilities, installed or replaced on public or private property after the effective date of this chapter shall be in compliance with the requirements of the State of Texas Health and Safety Code in regard to design and shielding requirements for outdoor lighting on any facility constructed in whole or in part constructed with state funds. Such lighting shall utilize full cut-off fixtures and be aimed directly at the playing surface in such a manner as to minimize glare, limit light trespass off the property, and prevent light from being emitted above the horizontal plane to pollute the night sky.
(2) Correlated color temperature. Lighting of outdoor recreational facilities owned or operated by a governmental entity or a non-profit association or organization are exempt from correlated color temperature requirements. However, the city encourages such lighting to be 3,000 degrees Kelvin or less if at all consistent with the requirements of the recreational facility.
(3) Lighting curfew. Lighting for outdoor recreational facilities on public or private property is prohibited after 10:00 p.m. unless such lighting is needed to complete a specific activity or event, organized by a city-recognized entity, already in progress that began before 9:00 p.m.
(E) Accent lighting.
(1) Design. Lighting used to emphasize features or drive attention to a structure, landscape, and foliage is allowed provided that no more than 1800 lumens are directed at any one side of a structure or illuminate an area of landscaping or foliage. It is strongly preferred that accent lighting be directed downward and away from the sky or adjacent properties.
(2) Shielding. All accent lighting shall be shielded to curtail glare for passing motorists, bicyclists, or pedestrians and prevent light trespass off property.
(F) String lights and rope lights.
(1) Design. The year-round use of string lights or rope lights for illumination or decoration is discouraged but not prohibited. Clear or colored string lights or rope lights or other similar illumination displays shall not create excessive glare for motorists, bicyclists, pedestrians, or neighbors.
(2) Festoon or bistro-type string lights, either clear or colored, used as outdoor illumination or decoration may be unshielded provided they comply with the following requirements:
(a) The lights shall produce not more than 125 lumens per bulb nor produce more than 125 lumens per linear foot of line or square foot of space.
(b) The lights shall have a correlated color temperature of not more than 2,700 degrees Kelvin (a warm, yellowish light).
(c) Festoon or bistro-type string lights shall not be located within three feet of a reflective surface such as a light colored or reflective metal wall.
(d) Unshielded festoon or bistro-type string lights that are illuminated for more than two nights in any given month shall not be visible from any residential property within 50 feet of the installed lights without the written approval of neighbors residing within the 50-foot area. Such approvals shall be signed, dated, and filed with the city’s Code Officer. Approvals become null and void if the signatory ceases to reside at the property or withdraws the approval.
(G) Flagpoles.
(1) While downward lighting is preferred, upward lighting of flagpoles with a height equal to or less than 20 feet above the ground level is permitted provided only a single spotlight is used per flagpole whose maximum initial lumen output does not exceed 75 lumens per foot of height of the flagpole as measured from the spotlight to the top of the pole. Spotlights shall be shielded or have diffusers installed so as to limit light trespass off the property and minimize glare for passing motorists, bicyclists, and pedestrians.
(2) Flagpoles with a height greater than 20 feet above ground level shall be illuminated from above with one or more light fixtures not to exceed 800 initial lumens in total, attached to the top of the flagpole or mounted above the top of the flagpole on a structure within 15 feet of the flagpole. Downward shining lights shall be shielded or have diffusers installed to limit light trespass off the property and minimize glare for passing motorists, bicyclists, and pedestrians.
(3) If a flag of the United States is displayed during the hours of darkness, it should be illuminated as recommended in the Federal Flag Code.
(H) Motion sensors. The city encourages the use of motion-activated outdoor lighting to reduce light pollution, save energy, and alert neighbors and public safety authorities of activity in the area of the sensor. However, notwithstanding the fact that most motion sensor-controlled fixtures can be adjusted to remain on for a limited period of time, all fixtures controlled by motion sensors shall comply with the provisions of this chapter.
(I) Other prohibitions. The following are specifically prohibited except as further noted:
(1) Mercury vapor fixtures. The installation of any mercury vapor, mercury arc, or mercury discharge fixture or lamp of any size or kind for use as outdoor lighting is prohibited.
(2) Barn lights. The installation of any fixture with a translucent refracting lens typical of old style “barn light” fixtures for use as outdoor lighting is prohibited unless the fixture includes a full opaque shield instead of the standard translucent refracting lens and otherwise complies with the shielding requirements of this chapter. The standard refracting lens is allowed only if it is painted or otherwise rendered substantially opaque.
(3) Wall packs. The installation of any wall pack style fixture for use as outdoor lighting is prohibited unless the fixture complies with the shielding requirements of this chapter, i.e., is a full cut-off fixture, shielded as necessary such that illumination is confined to the property on which the fixture is located.
(4) Drop lenses. The installation of any publicly-owned or privately-owned streetlight, area light, or other fixture with an unshielded drop lens or sag lens is prohibited.
(5) Searchlights and lasers. The operation of searchlights or aerial laser lights used for advertising purposes is prohibited.
(Ord. 2022-08-04, passed 8-4-2022)