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Jamestown
Town of Jamestown Zoning Ordinance
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§ 82-702

Lighting

  • A. Purposes. The Town of Jamestown has enacted this chapter to regulate the installation of exterior lighting in order to achieve the following purposes:

    • 1) To protect the residents and surrounding environment of Jamestown, including light sensitive plants and animals, from the effects of light pollution;

    • 2) To promote energy efficient and sustainable lighting practices and luminaires;

    • 3) To minimize adverse off-site impacts from new and existing lighting installations; and

    • 4) To permit reasonable uses of exterior lighting for safety, security, productivity, commerce and enjoyment.

  • B. Applicability.

    • 1) New installations. All exterior lighting installed after the effective date of this chapter shall conform to the standards set forth herein.

    • 2) Existing installations. All exterior lighting installed prior to the effective date of the ordinance from which this chapter is derived shall be exempt from the provisions of this chapter until a light and/or light fixture must be repaired, modified, refurbished and/or replaced. At the occurrence of any of these several events, any light and/or light fixture, with the exception of lighting and/or light fixtures installed on a structure and/or property devoted exclusively to single family residential use, shall conform to the standards set forth herein.

    • 3) Exceptions. The following instances shall be exempt from the requirements of this section:

      • a) Where federal or state laws, rules or regulations preempt local regulations.

      • b) Where fire, police, rescue or repair personnel need light for temporary emergencies or road repair work.

      • c) Where there are special requirements, such as sports facilities, historic decorative considerations or flag lighting. All such lighting shall be selected and installed to shield the lamp or lamps from direct view to the greatest extent possible and to minimize upward lighting and light pollution.

      • d) Where it has been determined that a reasonable safety and security interest exists that cannot be addressed by another method without increasing the cost or reducing the effectiveness of the lighting.

    • 4) Voluntary actions. As a voluntary measure to further the goals and objectives of the ordinance from which this chapter is derived, the town council urges that the following actions be considered and taken to bring all existing lights and/or light fixtures into compliance with the standards and provisions of this chapter:

      • a) Install a replacement lamp that directs light away from the sky.

      • b) Consider light and light fixture aiming or glare control devices such as light shields to prevent and/or reduce light trespass and light pollution.

      • c) All government-owned and operated properties and facilities are urged to immediately conform to the provisions of this chapter.

      • d) Lighting for site security should be configured for motion or infrared sensor operation, except in the case of lighting required by state or federal safety standards, property insurance coverage requirements or site safety standards.

  • C. General standards. All new, retrofitted, refurbished and/or modified exterior lighting that is installed in the Town of Jamestown, shall be the minimum necessary, in both number of luminaires and intensity of light, to achieve the intended purpose of the lighting, and shall meet the following standards, as relevant:

    • 1) All exterior lights and sign illumination shall be designed, located, installed, and directed in such a manner as to:

      • a) Prevent glare, light trespass or light pollution; and

      • b) Be shielded to the extent possible so as to confine the light within the target area.

    • 2) In all areas adjacent to residential property, no externally mounted, direct light source directed towards the property line shall be visible at the property line at ground level or above.

    • 3) To reduce off-site glare, lighting fixtures for all parking and pedestrian areas shall be:

      • a) Full cut-off type fixtures, or

      • b) Fully shielded/recessed fixtures where the lens is recessed or flush with the bottom surface.

    • 4) Lighting fixtures for building security or aesthetics and any display purposes shall be:

      • a) Top downward (not upward or sideways), and

      • b) Full cut off or fully shielded/recessed.

    • 5) Where outdoor playing fields or other special outdoor activity areas are to be illuminated, lighting fixtures shall be specified, mounted, and aimed so that:

      • a) The lighting fixture's beams fall within the primary playing area and immediate surroundings, and

      • b) No direct lighting trespass or light pollution.

    • 6) The height of luminaires, except streetlights in public rights-of-way, shall be the minimum necessary to provide adequate illumination, but shall not exceed a height of 15 feet when pole mounted unless a properly credentialed illuminating engineer hired for the benefit of the town finds that a height of any luminaire structure up to 20 feet will result in no greater light trespass and no greater light pollution than a luminaire structure at 15 feet in height or unless the luminaires must overhang vehicle travel lanes. Luminaires attached to the building shall be limited to the height necessary for illumination of entrances or locations not served by pole lighting. In no case shall a building fixture be mounted on the roof.

  • D. Waterfront lighting. Exterior lighting in and around the ponds, lakes, rivers, and other waters of the town, with the exception of lighting located below the mean high water mark of coastal areas, shall not be installed or maintained so as to create a hazard or nuisance to other property owners and shall comply with the following:

    • 1) Lights on docks shall be no more than three feet above the dock, shall be directed downward and be full cut off fixtures.

    • 2) Lights illuminating paths, stairs, decks, etc., shall not be directed towards the water and shall not direct light upwards.

    • 3) All exterior lighting shall be located, mounted, and shielded, so that direct illumination is not focused towards the water surface more than 20 feet from shore.

  • E. Architectural and landscape lighting.

    • 1) All fixtures shall be aimed and/or shielded to illuminate only the target area such that no stray light from the luminaire passes above the horizontal plane.

    • 2) Upward aimed façade and building lighting shall be fully shielded and fully confined from projecting into the sky by the building eaves, roofs, overhangs or structures and shall be mounted as flush with the illuminated wall as possible.

  • F. Canopy and service lighting. Outdoor sales and gas station service canopy lighting shall be aimed downward and installed such that the center of the fixture's luminous opening is flush with or recessed into the canopy ceiling. All lighting from the canopy must be substantially confined to the ground area directly beneath the perimeter of the canopy. All exterior lighting for canopies and/or service areas shall be of an indirect nature, emanating only from fixtures located under canopies, under eaves on the principal building or at ground level in the landscaping. Exterior lighting shall be arranged and shielded so there shall be no glare or reflections onto adjacent properties or street rights-of-way.

(Ord. of 2-3-2025(1), § 1(Exh. A))