[HISTORY: Adopted by the Mayor and Council
of the Borough of Saddle River 12-14-1981 by Ord. No. 358-C;
amended in its entirety 5-16-2022 by Ord. No. 22-1033.[1] Subsequent amendments noted where applicable.]
[1]
Editor's Note: Former amendments included Ord. Nos. 238-C
and 600-C.
The Borough finds that excessive lighting, glare and light trespass
in residential areas affects the health and welfare of residents,
motorists and others, and that the regulation of existing and future
lighting within the Borough is necessary.
Outdoor lighting for security purposes shall be permitted, provided that such lighting shall comply with the design standards as set forth in § 138-4 below.
Lighting for athletic purposes shall be permitted, provided that it shall comply with the design standards set forth in § 138-4 below, subject to the following exceptions:
A.Â
No property owner, tenant or member of their families, guest, invitee
or workman on the premises shall, between the hours of 10:00 p.m.
and sunrise, utilize any outdoor lighting for athletic facilities,
including but not limited to tennis courts, basketball courts and
swimming pools, having a source for such lighting facilities above
normal ground level. At all times, aboveground lighting of outdoor
athletic facilities shall be permitted only when such facilities are
being actively used.
B.Â
Where the athletic facility or activity to be lighted is presently
a nonconforming use on such property, such lighting for athletic purposes
shall be prohibited unless a variance is applied for and obtained
for said lighting from the Saddle River Zoning Board of Adjustment.
The following standards shall be applicable to all existing
outdoor light equipment used or to be installed by any property owner
for any property in the R-1 Residential Zone:
A.Â
The style of the light and light standard or stanchion shall be consistent
with the architectural style of the principal building.
B.Â
No light fixture, or combination of light fixtures, shall be permitted
where the illumination or glare from such fixture(s) results in a
reading of or greater than 0.1 footcandle at any property line.
C.Â
No light fixtures, including but not limited to floodlight-type lighting,
shall be permitted to be attached to any structure at a height of
25 feet or higher from the ground immediately below such fixture.
D.Â
Any floodlight-type fixture shall have its light source shielded
so as to not be visible from the property line, and any floodlight-type
fixture shall be angled so as not to permit illumination beyond a
45° angle from the structure to which it is affixed.
E.Â
With the exception of light posts, stanchions or pillars adjacent
to a driveway entry(ies), no lighting shall be permitted within 25
feet of any front, rear or side yard property line.
F.Â
Landscape lighting with the source of illumination shielded from
view from all property lines is permitted.
G.Â
With the exception of a) sconce or pendant lighting directly adjacent to or above an entry door or garage door to any residence; b) driveway entry lighting referenced in § 138-4E above; and c) lamppost-type lighting immediately adjacent to a swimming pool, all exterior lighting shall be shielded to prevent the light source (bulb) from being visible at any property line.
H.Â
No lighting fixture shall be permitted to exceed 3,000 Kelvin.
I.Â
Pathways and sidewalks shall be lighted with low- or mushroom-type
standards.
J.Â
Lighting shall not be permitted which requires flashing, twinkling
or intermittent illumination.
Temporary seasonal lighting shall be permitted from November 15 through March 1 of each year and shall not be subject to the limitations set forth in § 138-4.
The Saddle River Building Department and/or Construction Code Official, or his/her designee and/or the Saddle River Property Maintenance Inspector, upon a reasonable belief of a violation of any provision of this chapter, shall first cause to be issued a written warning to the property owner and/or entity in charge of such property, advising as to the alleged violation of this chapter and providing a period not to exceed 20 days to abate the condition. If the alleged violation continues following such abatement period, a summons may be issued to the offending property owner or other person or entity responsible for the property. Such summons shall be returnable in the Municipal Court. A separate summons may be issued for each day a violation is not abated. Any property owner having outdoor lighting installations that exist on the date of the adoption of this chapter but which do not comply with the standards set forth in § 138-4 above shall have a period of 45 days from the effective date of this chapter to bring such outdoor lighting fixtures into compliance.
