[HISTORY: Adopted by the City Council of the City of Las
Vegas 9-14-2022 by Ord. No. 22-09.[1] Amendments noted where applicable.]
[1]
Editor's Note: This ordinance also repealed former Ch. 285,
Lighting, Outdoor, adopted 2-15-2012 by Ord. No. 12-03.
The purpose of this Chapter 285 is to regulate outdoor lighting in order to: 1) permit the use of outdoor lighting that does not exceed the levels specified in the New Mexico Night Sky Protection Act[1] and recommended practices for nighttime safety, utility, productivity, enjoyment and commerce; 2) minimize adverse off-site impacts of lighting such as light trespass and light pollution; 3) reduce or prevent glare and conserve energy to the greatest practical extent; 4) reduce sky glow and improve the nighttime environment; 5) help protect the natural environment from the adverse effects of night lighting from gas or electric sources; and 6) promote a sense of safety and security and ensure aesthetically appropriate outdoor lighting in keeping with the character of the City of Las Vegas ("City"). The provisions in this Chapter 285 shall not apply to state-owned roadways within the City limits or lighting used by the City Fire Department, the City Police Department or other emergency services.
[1]
Editor's Note: See N.M.S.A. 1978, § 74-12-1
et seq.
As used in this chapter, the following terms shall have the
meanings indicated:
Lights limited to small individual lamps connected by a wire,
where the spacing of bulbs is not closer than three inches.
The light-producing source installed in a luminaire.
The general sky glow caused by the scattering of artificial
light in the atmosphere that results in decreased ability to see the
natural night sky.
The light emitted by a luminaire that shines beyond the property
on which the luminaire is installed.
A complete lighting unit, including the lamps, together with
the parts required to distribute the light, to position and/or protect
the lamps, and to connect the lamps to the power supply.
The brightness of a light source that causes eye discomfort,
including light that creates an annoyance or aggravation, but does
not create a potentially hazardous situation, and light that impairs
visibility and creates a potentially hazardous situation for either
pedestrians or motorists.
A.
All outdoor luminaries installed after January 1, 2023 on property within the City limits shall comply with this Chapter 285.
B.
Unless an outdoor luminaire violates the light trespass provisions of this Chapter 285, all outdoor luminaires existing and legally installed and operative before the effective date of this Chapter 285 are exempt from the requirements of Chapter 285 until the time of the lamp's replacement or August 1, 2023, whichever comes first.
A.
Applications for review by the district review board that include
the installation or replacement of outdoor lighting fixtures for new
construction, additions or remodeling shall contain the following
information:
(1)
Plans indicating the location, type and height of both building-
and ground-mounted luminaires;
(2)
A description of the luminaires, including lamps, poles or other
supports, and shielding devices, that may be provided as catalogue
cuts from the manufacturer; and
(3)
Photometric data, such as that furnished by the manufacturer, showing
the angle of light emission.
A.
All lamps, with the exception of City-owned and operated street lights,
shall be shielded to prohibit light trespass.
B.
All outdoor luminaires shall be designed, installed, located, operated
and maintained such that glare onto adjacent properties or streets
shall be minimized to the greatest practical extent. Glare onto any
adjacent property, roadway or alley by any non-City-owned or non-City-operated
lamp is prohibited. Such lamp shall be removed, or in the alternative
mounted at such a height, and shielded in such a manner, so as to
minimize, to the greatest practical extent, the light trespass onto
the adjacent property, roadway or alley.
C.
Except for certain structures in historic districts, accent lighting
shall be directed onto the building or object and not toward the sky
or onto adjacent properties. Direct light emissions must not be visible
above the roof line or beyond the building edge. Nongovernmental flagpole
lighting is prohibited. Neon lights are only permitted for commercial
property, and must be turned off during nonbusiness hours.
D.
Holiday lighting is exempt from the requirements of this Chapter 285 for the time period between December 1 of each year and January 15 of the following year. Flashing holiday lighting is prohibited on commercial property, and holiday lighting on commercial property shall be turned off no later than 10:00 p.m. each night. For non-commercial property, holiday lighting shall be turned off no later than 10:00 p.m. each night.
A.
Illumination levels shall not exceed the following standards for
average maintained horizontal footcandles at grade:
|
Area:
|
Commercial:
|
Residential:
|
|---|---|---|
|
Sidewalks
|
1.0
|
0.2
|
|
Pedestrian area
|
2.0
|
0.5
|
|
Parking lots
|
1.0
|
none
|
|
Building entrances
|
5.0
|
none
|
|
Building grounds
|
1.0
|
none
|
|
Public spaces
|
3.0
|
none
|
(1)
The maximum illumination at any point shall not exceed the allowed
average by more than one footcandle.
B.
In all cases, the average maintained footcandles upon reaching any
residential property line shall be zero. Shielding shall be required
on all outdoor luminaires and lamps to ensure that light emitting
from non-City sources shall not trespass onto any of the adjacent
or nearby property.
C.
Higher levels of illumination may be appropriate for specific or
unusual applications. Requests for higher allowed levels may be considered
by the City Council on an individual basis. Standards of the Illuminating
Engineering Society of North America shall be the justification for
consideration of any request for higher levels of illumination.
D.
The property owner or tenant is responsible for properly maintaining
illumination levels and required shielding.
A.
If, after investigation, the City determines that any provision of this Chapter 285 is being violated, the City shall give written notice of such violation(s) to the owner and/or occupant of such property, demanding that the violation be abated within 30 days of the date the notice is sent to the owner and/or occupant. If the violation is not abated within the thirty-day period, the City may file a court action, either legal or equitable, to enjoin, restrain or abate any violation(s) of this Chapter 285.
