EXTERIOR LIGHTING

1301 EXTERIOR LIGHTING

A. Purpose Exterior lighting is used to illuminate uses, parking lots, signs, and other site elements on a property. When well designed and properly installed, exterior lighting improves visibility and safety, provides a sense of security, and complements the character of the City. Conversely, poorly designed and improperly installed lighting can be inefficient, cause glare, and create light trespass and sky glow. In order to ensure that exterior lighting is well designed, and impacts on adjacent properties are controlled, the following requirements control exterior lighting in the City’s zoning districts.

B. Lighting Plan Required

1. A lighting plan is required for all non-residential uses and multi-family and rowhouse dwellings. Single-family, two-family, three-family, and rowhouse dwellings are exempt from a required lighting plan but are subject to applicable lighting requirements.

2. A lighting plan shall include the following: a. A plan showing all light pole locations, building-mounted lights, bollard lights, and all other lighting, with schematic wiring layout and power source connection indicated.

- b. Specifications for luminaires and lamp types, poles, wiring, conduit, and appurtenant construction, including photographs or drawings of proposed light fixtures.

- c. Pole, luminaire, and foundation details including pole height, height of building-mounted lights, mounting height, and height of the luminaire.

- d. Elevations of the site including all structures and luminaires sufficient to determine the total cut off angle of all luminaires and their relationship to abutting parcels.

- f. Other information and data reasonably necessary to evaluate the required lighting plan.

- C. Maximum Lighting Regulations
  
  1. The maximum allowable light level at any lot line is one footcandle.

- D. Luminaire Standards All luminaires shall be designed as cut off luminaires. Cut off luminaires are those with a cut off angle of 75 degrees or less. Cut off luminaires are subject to the following standards.

1. The maximum total height of a cut off luminaire, either freestanding or attached to a structure, shall be 25 feet. (Figure 13-1)

2. A cut off luminaire shall be designed to completely shield the light source from an observer three and one-half feet above the ground at any point along an abutting lot line. (Figure 13-1)

- E. Exceptions to Lighting Standards
  
  1. Luminaires used for public roadway illumination are exempt from the requirements of this section.

2. All temporary emergency lighting required by public safety agencies or other emergency services, as well as all vehicular luminaires, are exempt from the requirements of this section.

3. Because of their unique requirements for nighttime visibility and limited hours of operation, outdoor recreational facilities (public or private) such as, but not limited to, football fields, soccer fields, baseball fields, softball fields, tennis courts, golf driving ranges, show areas, and other similar uses are exempt from the requirements of this section. Recreational facilities are permitted a total luminaire height of 60 feet in any district. University or college educational facilities may erect luminaires not to exceed 90 feet when approved through an Institutional Master Plan and accompanied by a lighting plan.

4. Certain temporary uses may be unable to meet the requirements of this section. When such temporary uses are allowed, approval of all lighting is required as part of the temporary use permit.

- F. Prohibited Lighting
  
  1. Luminaires with no cut off are prohibited. A luminaire is considered to have no cut off if it is unshielded or has a cut off angle greater than 75 degrees.

3. Searchlights, laser source lights, or any similar high intensity lights are prohibited.