(a) Purpose. The purpose of this section is to regulate outdoor lighting elements as they contribute to the identity of a development or project. It is also the purposes of these regulations to ensure the safety of pedestrians while minimizing light pollution and the negative impacts of excessive glare.
(b) Applicability.
(1) The standards of this section shall apply to the following development activities:
A. Construction of all new buildings in nonresidential zoning districts;
B. Construction of all new nonresidential buildings in residential zoning districts.
C. Establishment or expansion of any vehicular use areas; or
D. Addition of outdoor lighting fixtures required by this section
(2) The requirements of this section shall not apply for a lighting related to any dwellings with four (4) or fewer dwelling units, however, all lighting for these uses, with the exception of low-voltage landscaping lighting, shall be completely shielded from adjacent properties.
(3) Decorative outdoor lighting fixtures with bulbs of less than twenty-five (25) watts, installed seasonally, are exempt from the requirements of this section.
(4) Fully shielded decorative lighting attached to a building or placed in landscaping and directed onto a building shall be exempt from the requirements of this section, provided direct light emissions are not intended to be visible above the building line roof. This shall not include decorative lighting used to illuminate a sign, which is regulated by Chapter 1113: Signs.
(5) Light fixtures used to illuminate flags, statutes, and any other objects mounted on a pole, pedestal, or platform shall be exempt from the requirements of this section, provided these objects are illuminated using a narrow cone beam or light fixtures designed to minimize light spillage beyond the illuminated object.
(6) Lighting for certain outdoor recreational uses because of their unique requirements for nighttime visibility and their limited hours of operation. However, such uses, which includes, but is not limited to, ball diamonds, playing fields, tennis courts and other similar outdoor recreational uses shall be required to meet the following standards:
A. Cutoff from a lighting source that illuminates an outdoor recreational use may exceed an angle of ninety (90) degrees from the pole, provided that the luminaries are shielded to prevent light and glare to spill over to adjacent residential properties.
B. The maximum permitted illumination at the lot lines shall be two (2) footcandles.
C. Exterior lighting for an outdoor recreational use shall be extinguished no later than 11:00 p.m.
(7) Temporary construction or emergency lighting is exempt from the requirements of this section. Such lighting shall be discontinued immediately upon completion of the construction work or abatement of the emergency necessitating such lighting.
(8) All outdoor lighting fixtures existing and legally installed prior to the effective date of this code, shall be exempt from the requirements of this section. When existing lighting fixtures become inoperative, their replacements shall be subject to the provisions of this section.
(9) Nothing in this chapter shall apply to lighting required by the FAA or any other federal regulatory authority.
(10) The applicant must provide a plan that identifies the location, height, and type of luminaries, and shows how the applicant intends to comply with this section.
(c) Lighting Standards.
(1) General Standards.
A. All lighting of buildings, lawns, parking areas and signs shall be designed so as not to shine onto any adjacent residential property or building, or to cause glare onto any public street or vehicle thereon.
B. Consistent illumination shall be provided across the site so as not to create dark spots that may create safety issues or to reduce visibility where vehicular use areas cross pedestrian pathways.
C. All outdoor lighting fixtures regulated according to this section, including but not limited to those used for parking areas, buildings, building overhangs, canopies, signs, displays and landscaping, shall be full-cutoff type fixtures, unless exempted per Section 1109.02(b).
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Figure 1109-B: Cutoff lighting fixtures (left) versus non-cutoff lighting fixtures (right).
D. Any use that has a canopy with lighting fixtures attached to the bottom of the canopy shall utilize recessed ceiling fixtures.
E. There shall be a maximum illumination of 0.5 footcandles at the lot line in all residential districts and for any nonresidential use that abuts a lot in a residential zoning district or lot occupied by an existing residential use.
(2) Measurement.
A. Light levels shall be measured in foot-candles with a direct reading, portable light meter. Readings shall be taken only after the cell has been exposed long enough to take a constant reading.
B. Measurements shall be taken at the property line, along a horizontal plane at a height of three and one-half (3.5) feet above the ground.
(3) Building-Mounted Lighting Standards.
A. Lighting may be mounted to a building facade only at entrances, loading/service locations, or for the purpose of accent lighting or illuminating nearby parking areas.
B. Exposed light bulbs are prohibited. The light fixtures shall be a total cutoff fixture (See Figure 1109-B.) but may direct lighting upward or downward.
C. In no case shall a light fixture mounted on a structure be mounted at a height where the fixture will exceed the height of the roofline.
(4) Location and Maximum Height of Light Poles.
A. The placement of light poles within raised curb planting areas or landscaped islands should be the priority location, but conflicts with parking lot trees that can obscure the lighting shall be avoided through alternative lighting locations.
B. The total height of exterior lighting poles shall not exceed the following height regulations. Height shall be measured from the average grade surrounding each light pole:
Districts and Uses: | Maximum Height: |
R-3 and R-4 Districts and all nonresidential uses in residential zoning districts | 20 feet |
Lots with 50 or fewer parking spaces in nonresidential zoning districts | 20 feet |
Lots with more than 50 parking spaces in nonresidential zoning districts | 35 feet |
PDs | To be determined during the PD review |
(Ord. 2024-032. Passed 7-22-24.)