A. Purpose: These regulations are intended to establish standards that ensure minimal light pollution, reduce glare, increase energy conservation, and maintain the quality of the county's physical and aesthetic character.
B. Applicability: These standards shall apply to all outdoor lighting including, but not limited to, search, spot, or flood lights for:
1. Buildings and structures;
2. Recreational areas;
3. Parking lot lighting;
4. Landscape lighting;
5. Signage.
C. Standards:
1. All exterior lighting shall be designed, located and lamped in order to prevent:
a. Overlighting or excessive lighting;
b. Energy waste;
c. Glare;
d. Light trespass;
e. Skyglow.
2. All nonessential exterior commercial and residential lighting is encouraged to be turned off after business hours and/or when not in use. Lights on a timer are encouraged. Sensor activated lights are encouraged to replace existing lighting that is desired for security purposes.
3. Recreational facilities such as baseball, softball, soccer, volleyball or football fields; driving ranges; outdoor arenas and amphitheaters; ski trails; or other outdoor field recreation facilities are exempt from height restrictions provided the lights are used only while the field is in use.
4. All other outdoor lighting shall meet the following standards:
a. The height of any light fixture or illumination source shall not exceed thirty feet (30').
b. All lighting or illumination units or sources shall be hooded or shielded in a downward direction so they do not produce glare or cause light trespass on any adjacent lot or real property as depicted in section 6-2-7 of this chapter.
c. Lights or illumination units shall not direct light, either directly or through a reflecting device, upon any adjacent lot or real property. Lighting should not illuminate the sky or reflect off adjacent water bodies or produce glare or cause light trespass on any adjacent lot or real property.
d. External lighting of the face of signs shall be placed above the sign and shielded or below the sign and directed in a manner that the illumination source shall not be visible from any adjacent lot or real property. Sign lighting shall not reflect or glare beyond the face of the sign and immediately below the sign. See title 9, chapter 7 of this code for further regulation of signs.
e. All outdoor lights used for parking areas, walkways, and similar uses mounted on poles eight feet (8') or greater in height shall be directed downward. The light source shall be shielded so that it will not produce glare or cause light trespass on any adjacent lot or real property.
f. Searchlights shall only be operated for special events or grand openings for a maximum of one week. Searchlights shall not be operated on residential or agricultural property.
g. The installation of mercury vapor lamps is hereby prohibited.
h. Flashing or intermittent lights, lights of changing degree of intensity, or moving lights shall not be permitted. This subsection shall not be construed so as to prohibit the flashing porch light signal used only while emergency services are responding to a call for assistance at the property or holiday lights.
i. Industrial and exterior lighting shall not be used in such a manner that produces glare on public highways and neighboring property. Arc welding, acetylene torch cutting, or similar processes shall be performed so as not to be seen from any point beyond the property line. Exceptions will be made for necessary repairs to equipment.
j. Sensor activated lights, provided:
(1) It is located in such a manner as to prevent glare and lighting onto properties of others or into a public right of way;
(2) It is set to only go on when activated and to go off within five (5) minutes after activation has ceased;
(3) It shall not be triggered by activity off the property.
k. Lighting of radio, communication, and navigation towers along with power lines and power poles; provided the owner or occupant demonstrates that the federal aviation administration (FAA) regulations can only be met through the use of lighting.
l. All applications for a conditional use permit and/or a building permit shall include an outdoor lighting plan for the entire site which indicates how the above standards are to be met. The approved permit shall be a part of the conditional use permit and/or the building permit.
m. Waterway navigational lights as required by coast guard regulations and/or state regulations. (Ord. 05-2, 11-8-2004)
n. Uplighting for flags, provided the flag is of a government and the maximum lumen output is one thousand three hundred (1300) lumens. Flags are encouraged to be taken down at sunset to avoid the need for lighting.
o. LED lighting color shall not exceed three thousand degrees Kelvin (3000° K).
p. Streetlights shall be high pressure sodium, low pressure sodium, LED, or metal halide, unless otherwise determined that another type is more efficient. Lights must be shielded (see section 6-2-7 of this chapter).
q. Canopy lights, such as service station lighting shall be fully recessed or fully shielded so as to ensure no light source is visible from or causes glare on public rights of way or adjacent properties. (Ord. 17-02, 2-13-2017)
D. Procedure:
1. Applications To Include Lighting Plan: All applications for conditional use permits, planned unit developments, subdivision approvals, applicable sign permits, or building permits shall include lighting plans showing location, type, and height in order to verify that lighting conforms to the provisions of this chapter.
2. Review By Planning And Zoning Administrator: The planning and zoning administrator shall review any new exterior lighting plans on subject property that is part of an application for conditional use permits, planned unit developments, subdivision approvals, or applicable sign permits to determine whether the exterior lighting complies with the standards of this chapter.
3. Review By Building Official: The building official shall review any new exterior lighting or any existing exterior lighting on subject property that is part of an application for a building permit to determine whether the exterior lighting complies with the standards of this chapter.
4. Conformance Required: For all exterior lighting which must conform to the requirements of this chapter, the building official or planning and zoning administrator shall issue a decision whether the exterior lighting complies with the standards of this chapter. An administrative variance may be granted for exterior lighting used for bona fide agricultural use operations. All such decisions may be appealed to the county planning and zoning commission in accordance with the land use ordinance. (Ord. 05-2, 11-8-2004)