(a) Purpose and applicability.
(1) Purpose. It is the intent of this section to achieve several purposes with respect to lighting in Richland County. Among these purposes are: to minimize light pollution, glare, and light trespass; to conserve energy and resources while maintaining night-time safety and utility; and to curtail the degradation of the night-time visual environment.
(2) Applicability. This section shall apply to all new development in the unincorporated portions of Richland County unless otherwise specified. Although all new development must comply with the standards set forth in this section, only major land developments and major subdivisions must submit a lighting plan with their development application. When a building or structure is extended, enlarged, or reconstructed after the effective date of this chapter, the applicable lighting standards shall apply with respect to such extended, enlarged, or reconstructed portion or portions of such structure.
(b) Standards.
(1) Requirements for all zoning categories and applications.
(a) Luminaire heights are measured from ground level to the top of the luminaire.
(b) All luminaires shall be full-cutoff certified; provided, however, outdoor athletic/sports fields are exempt from this requirement as long as the luminaires are shielded to minimize glare.
(c) All luminaires shall have internal visors/panels or external visors that control offsite light spill and glare.
(d) Illumination from any luminaire at property lines shall not exceed .1 horizontal or .1 vertical foot-candles; provided, however, outdoor retail uses shall not exceed an average of 2.5 horizontal and/or vertical foot-candles.
(e) The orientation of all lighting shall be downward; provided, however, churches, temples, mosques, and other such places of worship may orient some lights upward onto specific architectural components of the structure (such as steeples or domes).
(f) Accent lighting for sculptures, trees, landscaping features, flags, and entrances may orient light upward.
(g) To control light spill and glare, luminaires shall be properly aimed when installed, and proper aiming shall be maintained.
(2) Lighting exempt from these standards.
(a) Lighting within swimming pools or other water features that are governed by Department of Health and Environmental Control regulations.
(b) Exit signs, stairs, ramps, and other illumination required by building codes.
(c) Emergency room entrances.
(3) Non-residential standards (except outdoor retail).
(a) Parking lot lighting shall be reduced to security levels within sixty (60) minutes after the end of business hours. Luminaires near building entrances and entryways (driveways) may remain illuminated at security lighting levels.
(b) For parking lots and driveways, luminaires may not exceed twenty-four (24) feet in height.
(c) Parking garages:
[1] Perimeter poles are not allowed on the top floor.
[2] Interior poles may not exceed sixteen (16) feet in height.
[3] Luminaires shall be attached to perimeter walls.
(d) For pedestrian zones, luminaires on sidewalks, in landscaped areas, or adjacent to buildings may not exceed twelve (12) feet in height.
(e) Building mounted luminaires may not be mounted above the 1st floor and shall not exceed sixteen (16) feet in height.
(f) The maximum lighting per acre is 200,000 lumens per acre for business hours and 80,000 lumens per acre for security/non-business hours.
(g) The distance between luminaires on commercial properties and residential property lines must be greater than or equal to luminaire height. Provided, however, in the event of any conflict between this requirement and a requirement contained in a different provision of this chapter, the more restrictive provision shall apply.
(4) Residential standards (including hotels & motels).
(a) For parking lots and driveways, luminaires may not exceed eighteen (18) feet in height.
(b) For pedestrian zones, luminaires on sidewalks, in landscaped areas, or adjacent to buildings may not exceed twelve (12) feet in height.
(c) Building mounted luminaires may not be mounted above the 1st floor.
(d) The maximum lighting per acre is 80,000 lumens per acre.
(5) Outdoor retail.
(a) The maximum lighting per acre is 1.3 million lumens per acre for business hours and 150,000 lumens per acre for security/non-business hours; provided, however, for a business that abuts a residential district, non-business hours shall mean between the hours of 10 p.m. and 7:00 a.m.
(b) Luminaries shall not exceed twenty-four (24) feet in height.
(c) Full-power lighting shall be reduced within thirty (30) minutes after the end of business hours. Auto display areas may be illuminated, but at security levels.
(6) Athletic lighting.
(a) Athletic lighting is exempt from lumens per acre.
(b) Athletic lighting shall have internal visors/panels or external visors that control offsite spill and glare.
(c) Golf driving ranges must use elevated tee boxes with lighting below.
(d) Light trespass requirements apply.
(e) Lighting must be turned off by 11:00 p.m.; provided, however, events sanctioned by the South Carolina High School League or the South Carolina Association of Independent Schools which are underway at the time the 11:00 hour happens are exempt from this requirement.
(f) The distance between luminaires for athletic facilities and residential property lines must be greater than or equal to luminaire height. Provided, however, in the event of any conflict between this requirement and a requirement contained in a different provision of this chapter, the more restrictive provision shall apply.
(7) Prohibited lighting. The following lighting features are prohibited: search lights, laser source lights, or any similar high-intensity light, except in emergencies by police and fire personnel or at their direction.
(8) Canopy standards.
(a) Shielding: All luminaires mounted on or recessed into the lower surface of service station and/or entrance canopies shall be fully shielded and utilize flat lenses.
(b) Total Under-Canopy Output: The total light output used for illuminating service station and/or entrance canopies defined as the sum of all under-canopy initial bare-lamp outputs in lumens, shall not exceed 430 lumens per square meter (forty lumens per square foot) of canopy.
(c) All lighting mounted under the canopy, including but not limited to luminaires mounted on the lower surface or recessed into the lower surface of the canopy and any lighting within signage or illuminated panels over the pumps, is to be included toward the total at full initial lumen output.
(9) Lighting lamps.
(a) Approved lighting lamps: incandescent lamps, fluorescent lamps, metal halide lamps, LED devices, and induction lamps.
(b) Prohibited lighting lamps: high pressure sodium lamps, low-pressure sodium lamps, and mercury vapor lamps (sometimes called high-pressure mercury, as distinguished from fluorescent).
(Ord. No. 074-04HR, § V, 11-9-04; Ord. No. 088-08HR, § II, 12-16-08; Ord No. 005-10HR, § I, 1-19-10; Ord. 017-10HR, § I, 4-20-10; Ord. No. 028-10HR, §§ I, II, 6-1-10; Ord. No. 032-12HR, § I, 5-15-12; Ord. No. 024- 14HR, § I, 5-20-14)