(A) Purpose. The purpose of this section is to regulate light spillage and glare to ensure the safety of motorists and pedestrians, and to ensure lighting does not adversely affect land uses on adjacent properties. More specifically, this section is intended to:
(1) Regulate exterior lighting to mitigate adverse impacts. Regulate exterior lighting to assure that excessive light spillage and glare are not directed at adjacent properties, neighboring areas, and motorists;
(2) Ensure proper insulation. Ensure that all site lighting is designed and installed to maintain adequate lighting levels on site while limiting negative lighting impacts on adjacent lands; and
(3) Provide security. Provide security for persons and land.
(B) Applicability.
(1) In general. The provisions of this section shall apply to all development in the city unless exempted in accordance with § 153.063(C) below. For new development, including new signs, the Community Development Department may require specification plans and light distribution plans to verify compliance with these standards.
(C) Exemptions. The following is exempted from the exterior lighting standards of this section.
(1) Single-family detached dwellings;
(2) Existing athletic field lighting;
(3) City-owned, -operated, or -maintained street lights located within a street right-of-way or other easement granted to the city; and
(D) General standards for exterior lighting.
(1) Hours of illumination. Public and institutional uses, commercial uses, and industrial uses (See Table 5-1) that are adjacent to existing residential development or vacant land in residential districts shall turn off all exterior lighting—except lighting necessary for security or emergency purposes—within one hour of closing. For the purposes of this division, lighting “necessary for security or emergency purposes” shall be construed to mean the minimum amount of exterior lighting necessary to illuminate possible points of entry or exit into a structure, to illuminate exterior walkways, or to illuminate outdoor storage areas. Such lighting may be activated by motion sensor devices.
(2) Illumination direction. In all districts, lighting shall be directed downward. In addition, upwardly-directed lighting shall not be used to illuminate structures, except for low-wattage architectural lighting or lighting for the American flag.
(E) Design standards for exterior lighting. All exterior lighting shall meet the following standards:
(1) Maximum lighting height.
(a) Except for outdoor sports fields or performance areas, the height of outdoor lighting, whether mounted on poles or walls or by other means, shall be no greater than 16 feet in residential districts and no greater than 25 feet in business districts.
(b) Wherever possible, illumination of outdoor seating areas, building entrances, and walkways shall be accomplished by use of ground mounted fixtures not more than four feet in height.
(2) Shielding and fixtures.
(a) Exterior. Light fixtures in excess of 60 watts or 100 lumens shall use full cut-off lenses or hoods to prevent glare or spillover from the project site onto adjacent lands and streets.
(b) Interior. No interior light source shall be positioned, aimed, or configured so as to result in the light source being visible from land occupied by existing residential development.
(c) Canopies. No light source in a canopy structure shall extend downward further than the lowest edge of the canopy ceiling.
(d) Awnings. Awnings or canopies used for building accents over doors, windows, etc., shall not be internally illuminated (i.e., from underneath or behind the awning). Illumination casting downward from the awning may be allowed provided that the light source shall not extend downward farther than the lowest edge of the awning.
(3) Maximum illumination levels. All outdoor lighting and indoor lighting visible from outside shall be designed and located so that the maximum illumination measured in footcandles at ground level at a property line or right-of-way center line shall not exceed the standards in Table 4-5, Maximum Illumination Levels. Cut-off lighting shall be designed to direct light downward (e.g., shoe box style).
Type of Use [1] | Maximum Illumination (footcandle) |
All uses | 0.5 at all ROW center lines |
Residential or civic & institutional use | 0.5 at property line |
Commercial or industrial use | 1.0 at property line |
Parking lots | 1.0 at property line |
[1]: See Table 5-1: Uses by District | |
(F) Wall pack lights. Wall packs on buildings may be used at entrances to a building to light unsafe areas. They are not intended to draw attention to the building or provide general building or site lighting. Wall packs on the exterior of the building shall be fully shielded (e.g., true cut-off type bulb or light source not visible from off-site) to direct the light vertically downward and be of low wattage (preferably 100 watts or lower). Wall pack light sources visible from any location off the site are prohibited.
(G) Exemptions for a security plan. Government facilities, parks and open areas, utilities, and public safety (see Table 5-1) where sensitive or dangerous materials are stored may submit to the Community Development Department a site security plan proposing exterior lighting that deviates from the standards in this division. The Community Development Department shall approve, or approve with conditions, the site security plan and its proposed deviation from the standards of this division, upon finding that:
(1) Deviation necessary to protect public or ensure security. The proposed deviation from the standards is necessary for the adequate protection of the public;
(2) Significantly greater danger of theft or damage without additional lighting. The condition, location, or use of the land, or the history of activity in the area, indicates the land or any materials stored or used on it are in significantly greater danger of theft or damage, or members of the public are at greater risk for harm than on surrounding land; and
(3) Deviation is minimum required and will not have adverse effect. The proposed deviation from the standards is the minimum required, and will not have a significant adverse effect on neighboring lands.
(H) illumination of outdoor sports fields and performance areas. Lighting of outdoor sports fields and performance areas shall comply with the following standards:
(1) Glare control package. All lighting fixtures shall be equipped with an existing glare control package (e.g., louvers, shields, or similar devices) and aimed so that their beams are directed and fall within the primary playing or performance area.
(2) Hours of operation. The lighting system for any game or event shall be extinguished after the end of the game or event.
(I) Sign lighting. Lighting fixtures illuminating signs shall comply with the standards of this section, and exterior light sources shall be aimed and shielded so that direct illumination is focused exclusively on the sign face and the light source is not visible from off-site areas. A light distribution plan or other information demonstrating compliance with the lighting requirements of this chapter.
(J) Lighting requirements for the CCD District.
(1) Parking lot lighting shall be consistent with the common lighting style for fixtures and poles within the CCD design guidelines, or as adopted by the City Council.
(2) Public street lighting shall be consistent with a common lighting style throughout the CCD, based on a style for fixtures and poles to be identified in the city’s public improvement specification.
(Ord. 799, passed 2-27-2023)