(a) Purpose. The purpose of this section is to control the installation of exterior lighting fixtures to prevent light pollution in the forms of light trespass and glare and to preserve, protect, and enhance the character of the City and the lawful nighttime use and enjoyment of property located within the City. Appropriate site lighting, including lights for signs, buildings and streets, shall be arranged so as to provide safety, utility and security; control light trespass and glare on adjacent properties and public roadways.
(b) Applicability. The standards of this section shall apply to all development activities, subject to review under this code, with the following exceptions:
(1) Lighting related to single-family and two-family dwellings are exempt, however, all lighting for these uses, with the exception of low-voltage landscaping lighting, which shall be completely shielded from adjacent properties.
(2) Decorative outdoor lighting fixtures with bulbs of less than 25 watts, installed seasonally, are exempt from the requirements of this section.
(3) 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 1127: Signage.
(4) 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.
(5) 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 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 footcandles.
C. Exterior lighting for an outdoor recreational use shall be extinguished no later than 11:00 p.m.
(6) 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.
(7) Nothing in this Chapter shall apply to lighting required by the FAA or any other federal regulatory authority.
(c) Exterior Lighting Plan.
(1) A lighting plan is required for all uses that are required to file a development plan and shall be approved according to the procedures set forth in Section 1105.07. The lighting plan shall demonstrate compliance with the requirements of this section. However, a photometric study of the illumination shall only be required when a multi-family dwelling with 10 or more units or a nonresidential use is proposed to be located adjacent to a lot in a residential district or that is occupied by an existing residential use.
(2) All existing uses on which exterior lighting is installed or changed shall conform to these standards.
(3) The lighting plan shall demonstrate compliance with the exterior lighting standards of this section.
(d) General Requirements.
(1) 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 specifically exempted by this section.
A. Full-cutoff fixtures shall be installed and maintained so that the shielding is directed downwards or at a downward angle as illustrated in Figure 1117-A.
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B. Any use that has a canopy with lighting fixtures attached to the bottom of the canopy shall utilize recessed ceiling fixtures.
C. Signs that are wholly illuminated from within and freestanding signs that are externally illuminated with an exposed incandescent lamp not exceeding 40 watts shall not require shielding.
(2) All on-site 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.
(3) Illumination is required consistently across the site shall be designed so as not to create dark spots that may create safety issues in such areas as vehicular use areas and connecting pedestrian paths.
(4) For all nonresidential uses in the R-1, R-2, and R-T Districts, all nonessential outdoor lighting fixtures, including parking, sign, display, and aesthetic lighting, shall be turned off after business hours. Only that lighting needed for safety or security may remain lit after close of business, in which case the lighting shall be reduced to the minimum level necessary.
(5) 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.
(6) 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 3.5 feet above the ground.
(7) Maximum Height of Light Poles. 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:
TABLE 1117-2: MAXIMUM HEIGHT OF LIGHT POLES | |
Districts: | Maximum Height |
AG, R-1, R-2, R-T, R-3, R-4 and R-5 | 20 feet |
CF, C-1, C-2, C-3, C-4, I-1 and I-3 | 25 feet |
I-2 | 28 feet |
Planned Developments | To be determined during plan review |
(Ord. 2018-009. Passed 5-7-18.)