General Purpose. This regulation of exterior lighting applies to both permanently installed exterior light fixtures and temporary installation of lighting for whatever purpose and is necessary to prevent misdirected or excessive artificial light, caused by inappropriate or misarranged light fixtures that produce direct glare or light trespass, and is necessary to improve or maintain nighttime public safety, utility and security.
(a) All lighting fixtures for parking areas or the external illumination of buildings or ground shall:
(1) Be directed away from and shielded from adjacent residential properties or residential zoning districts.
(2) Be arranged so as not to adversely affect driver visibility on adjacent streets.
(3) Wall-mounted lights shall be fully shielded luminaries such as shoebox or can style fixtures.
(b) All lighting fixtures designed or placed so as illuminate any portion of a lot shall meet the following requirements:
(1) The light source shall be completely concealed within an opaque housing and shall not be visible from any street.
(2) Only incandescent, fluorescent, metal halide, LED, or color corrected high- pressure sodium or approved equal may be used. The same type must be used for the same or similar types of lighting on any one site or planned unit development.
(3) Fixtures must be directed downward. Up-lighting is prohibited, except for accent lighting for buildings, signs and flag poles.
(4) When a commercial, industrial or institutional use abuts a residential use or district, all parking lot light fixtures not necessary for security or emergency purposes shall be equipped with automatic timers or turned off during nonoperating hours.
(5) For the purposes of this subsection, 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.
(6) No flashing, blinking, laser or moving lights shall be permitted.
(7) Electrical service to the light fixtures shall be placed underground.
(8) Outdoor lighting shall be designed to present a uniform color temperature on a site, building or development.
(c) A lighting plan is required for all uses that are required to file a development plan. The lighting plan shall demonstrate compliance with the standards of this se ction and shall include the following:
(1) Show the location of all exterior light fixtures.
(2) Specifications and drawings or photographs for all exterior light fixture types, poles and appurtenant construction.
(3) Lamp wattage/lumens for all luminaries.
(4) Cut sheets for all proposed exterior light fixtures and poles.
(5) A photometric plan illustrating the levels of illumination at ground level shall account for all light sources that impact the subject site, including light trespass from and to neighboring properties.
(d) Automobile-oriented uses such as gasoline stations, automotive service stations and drive-through facilities located within 500 feet of a residential use or district, shall install recessed ceiling fixtures in any canopy. The maximum light intensity allowed measured at 3.5 feet above grade under the canopy shall be 35 foot- candles.
(e) Maximum Height Requirements.
(1) The total height of exterior light fixtures shall not exceed the following maximum heights measured from the natural grade.
District | Maximum Height |
All Residential Districts | 20 feet |
Office and Business District | 28 feet |
Industrial Districts | 30 feet |
(2) All outdoor recreational/sports facilities must be approved by the City Planning Commission with the following standards.
A. The mounting height of outdoor recreational/sports facilities lighting fixtures shall not exceed eighty (80) feet from finished grade unless approved by the Planning Commission if there are no adverse effects on surrounding properties.
B. All outdoor recreational/sports facilities lighting fixtures shall be equipped with a glare control package (louvers, shields, or similar devices).
C. The fixtures must be aimed so that their beams are directed and fall within the primary playing field or performance area so that no direct light illuminations are directed off site.
D. Light trespass values shall not exceed 0.2 foot-candle (FC) horizontal levels at 150 feet beyond the field/performance area boundary or at Residential property lines, whichever is closer.
E. A photometric plan illustrating the levels of illumination at ground level shall account for all light sources that impact the subject site, including light trespass from and to neighboring properties.
F. No outdoor recreational/sports facilities shall be illuminated after 11:00 p.m.
G. Lighting for all recreational/sports facilities shall be on a case by case basis.
H. Other requirements determined to be necessary by the Planning Commission.
(f) Light Pollution Standards. Artificially produced light that strays beyond property lines shall be considered a public nuisance when intensity levels exceed the maximum illumination levels at or beyond five (5) feet into the adjoining property as listed in chart below.
Receiving Area Use | Maximum Horizontal (foot-candles) at Grade Beyond Property Line | Maximum Vertical (foot-candles) at the Structure Height |
Residential | 0.2 | 0.8 |
Office and Business | 0.5 | 2.0 |
Industrial | 0.5 | 2.0 |
NOTE: When two differing area uses abut, the lower light level value shall take precedence along the common property line. | ||
(g) Where a fence exists that meets current Code (1145.11) within the City, that the foot candle reading be taken from fence height both horizontal and vertical measurements starting at five feet (5') from property line into adjoining property.
(h) Location.
(1) When the abutting district is an R-1 through R-3 or OS district, the distance between the structure supporting the luminaire and the property line of such zoning district shall not be less than the distance between the top of the light source and the ground below the structure or building to which the luminaire is attached.
(2) The layout of lighting shall be designed so that poles do not interfere with other elements of the approved site such as trees, landscaping, and parking.
(i) Exemptions.
(1) Holiday lighting
(2) Nothing in this Section shall apply to lighting required by the FAA or any other federal regulatory authority.
(3) 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.
(4) Government facility lighting necessary for public safety
(5) Temporary lighting used for special events organized by the City of Ontario
(6) Other temporary lighting determined to be reasonable and appropriate by the Zoning Inspector.
(Ord. 22-26. Passed 4-20-22.)