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(a) Application. Except as provided in subdivision (c), the provision of this chapter shall apply to all outdoor lighting in the valley region, as specified in § 83.07.050, and mountain and desert regions, as specified in § 83.07.060. All outdoor light fixtures installed after the effective date of this chapter shall comply with this chapter.
(b) Non-conforming Lighting. Except as provided in subdivision (c), all outdoor light fixtures installed prior to the effective date of this chapter are subject to the compliance period set forth in § 83.07.080. Notwithstanding the compliance period, the following requirements shall be complied with immediately:
(1) Outdoor light fixtures that have the ability to be redirected, shall be directed downward so as to minimize sky glow, glare and light trespass onto adjacent properties; and
(2) Outdoor light fixtures that have adjustable dimmers with color temperature that exceeds 3,000 Kelvin shall be dimmed to 3,000 Kelvin or lower to minimize glare and light trespass onto adjacent properties.
(c) Exempt Lighting and Activities. The following lighting and activities are not regulated by this chapter:
(1) Indoor lighting.
(2) Lighting within the public right-of-way for the principal purpose of illuminating public streets or traffic control.
(3) Lighting solely used to illuminate signs for which a permit has been received.
(4) Lighting solely used to illuminate address signs.
(5) Construction or emergency lighting provided such lighting is temporary, necessary, and is discontinued immediately upon completion of the construction work or termination of the emergency.
(6) Aircraft navigation lights such as those attached to radio/television towers and regulated by federal or state standards.
(7) Short-term lighting associated with activities authorized by a valid temporary use permit, special event permit or film permit during the duration of the permit.
(8) Outdoor lighting fixtures on facilities or lands owned, operated, or controlled by the United States Government or State of California.
(9) Short-term lighting associated with recreational facilities for outdoor sport and recreational use. Recreational facilities shall not be illuminated unless the facilities are being utilized. The illumination shall be turned off no later than 11:00 p.m. or one hour after termination of the event and/or use, whichever occurs last.
(10) Seasonal lighting.
(11) Outdoor lighting, or other facility lighting, for industrial facilities that conduct outdoor operations after sunset and before sunrise pursuant to a valid use permit, or other land use entitlement, or otherwise applicable law.
(Ord. 4419, passed - -2021)
This section provides standards for outdoor lighting in the Valley region of the County.
(a) Light Trespass from Commercial or Industrial Use - Prohibited. Outdoor lighting of commercial or industrial land uses shall be fully shielded to preclude light pollution or light trespass in excess of the maximum allowed foot-candles allowed by subdivision (b) on any of the following:
(1) An abutting residential land use zoning district;
(2) A residential parcel; or
(3) Public right-of-way.
(b) Maximum Allowed Foot-candles. Direct or indirect light from any light source shall not cause light trespass exceeding five-tenths foot-candles when measured at the property line of a residential land use zoning district, residential parcel, or public right-of-way. Light levels shall be measured with a light meter, following the standard spectral luminous efficiency curve adopted by the International Commission on Illumination (CIE).
(Ord. 4419, passed - -2021)
This section provides standards for outdoor lighting in the mountain and desert regions of the County.
(a) Shielding Required. All outdoor light fixtures shall be fully shielded, installed and maintained in such a manner that the shielding does not permit light trespass in excess of amounts set forth in subdivision (f).
(b) Light Pollution Standards. Light pollution and trespass shall be minimized through the use of directional lighting, fixture location, height and the use of shielding and/or motion sensors and timers in such a manner that the light source does not permit light trespass in excess of amounts set forth in subdivision (f).
(c) Automated Controls. Automated control systems, such as motion sensors and timers, shall be used to meet curfew requirements set forth in subdivision (d). Photocells or photo controls shall be used to extinguish all outdoor lighting automatically when sufficient daylight is available. Automated controls should be fully programmable and supported by battery or similar backup.
(d) Dark Sky Curfew. All outdoor lighting shall be extinguished by 11:00 p.m., close of business, or when people are no longer present in exterior areas, whichever is later, except for the following:
(1) Lighting used for entry and exit points of a structure, parking areas, driveways and driveway ingress/egress points; or
(2) Lighting activated by a motion sensor that extinguishes no later than five minutes after activation.
(e) Lighting Color. The correlated color temperature of all outdoor lighting shall be 3,000 Kelvin or less except for seasonal lighting.
(f) Allowable Light Trespass. Outdoor lighting shall not cause light trespass exceeding one-tenths foot-candles measured with a light meter oriented vertically or horizontally either at the property line of the adjacent property or measured from some other point on the property where light trespass may be reasonably determined to occur due to differences in property or improvement elevations.
(g) Blinking, Flashing, or High Intensity Lighting. Permanently installed lighting that blinks, flashes or is of high intensity or brightness that causes a light trespass is prohibited.
(h) Residential String Lights. Notwithstanding anything to the contrary, string lights may be allowed in outside dining areas, entertainment areas or used as landscape lighting in connection with a residential dwelling or use provided that all of the following conditions are met:
(1) The correlated color temperature of the light sources does not exceed 3,000 Kelvin; and
(2) The emission of no individual lamp in the string exceeds forty initial lumens, and the aggregate total of lumen output of such string lights used as outdoor light fixtures does not exceed 4,000 lumens.
(Ord. 4419, passed - -2021)
(a) Conflicts. In the event the provisions in this chapter conflict with federal or state law, this section shall be applied in a manner intended to carry out all provisions of law to the maximum extent feasible. When there is an irreconcilable conflict between the provisions of this chapter and the requirements of federal or state law, the provisions of federal or state law shall prevail over the provisions contained in this chapter only to the extent necessary to avoid a violation of those laws.
(b) Minimum Lighting Standards. This chapter provides for minimum outdoor lighting standards. In order to further minimize light pollution and light trespass, nothing in this chapter shall prohibit the County from imposing standards that are more restrictive as a condition of approval for a discretionary land use. Nor shall this chapter prohibit a declaration of covenants, conditions and restrictions for private enforcement from further restricting lighting so long as it meets the minimum standards detailed in this chapter.
(Ord. 4419, passed - -2021)
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