A. 
Purpose and intent. The purpose of this section is to regulate light spillage and glare to ensure the safety of motorists and pedestrians, and to ensure lighting does not adversely affect land uses on adjacent lands. More specifically, this section is intended to:
(1) 
Regulate lighting to assure that excessive light spillage and glare are not directed at adjacent lands, neighboring areas, and motorists;
(2) 
Ensure that all site lighting is designed and installed to maintain adequate lighting levels on site;
(3) 
Provide security for persons and land.
B. 
Applicability.
(1) 
General. The provisions of this section shall apply to all development in the City unless exempted in accordance with § 72-58B(4), Exemptions.
(2) 
Time of review. Review for compliance with the standards of this section shall occur as part of the review of an application for a site plan, planned development, certificate of appropriateness, or certificate of zoning use, as appropriate by the Development Administrator.
(3) 
Existing development. Compliance with these standards, to the maximum extent practicable, shall also apply to redevelopment of an existing structure, building, or use when it is expanded, enlarged, or otherwise increased in intensity equivalent to or beyond 50%.
(4) 
Exemptions. The following uses, activities and development are exempt from the exterior lighting standards of this section:
(a) 
FAA-mandated lighting associated with a utility tower or airport;
(b) 
Lighting associated with navigational beacons, the United States flag, Virginia flag, or City of Fredericksburg flag;
(c) 
Holiday lighting during the months of November, December, and January, provided the lighting does not create unsafe glare on street rights-of-way;
(d) 
Battery-powered emergency lighting; and
(e) 
Architectural lighting of 450 lumens (= 40 watts incandescent) or less.
To ensure compliance with the standards of this section, a lighting plan demonstrating how exterior lighting will comply with the standards of this section shall be included as part of every development approval application.
A. 
Hours of illumination. Institutional uses, commercial uses, and industrial uses that are adjacent to existing residential development shall extinguish all exterior lighting — except lighting necessary for security or emergency purposes — within one hour after closing and shall not turn on such lights until within one hour of opening. For the purposes of this subsection, lighting "necessary for security or emergency purposes" shall be construed to mean the minimum amount of exterior lighting necessary to illuminate possible points of entry or exit into a structure, to illuminate exterior walkways, or to illuminate outdoor storage areas. Lighting activated by motion sensor devices is strongly encouraged.
B. 
Shielding. Except for single-family detached and duplex dwellings, all exterior luminaries, including security lighting, shall be full cut-off fixtures and directed downward, consistent with Figure 72-58.2B, Full Cut-Off Fixtures. In no case shall lighting be directed above a horizontal plane through the lighting fixture.
Figure 72-58.2B. Full Cut-Off Fixtures
C. 
Maximum height. Except for athletic fields or performance areas, the height of outdoor lighting, whether mounted on poles, walls, or by other means, shall be no greater than 25 feet above grade.
D. 
Maximum illumination value.
(1) 
All outdoor lighting and indoor lighting visible from outside shall be designed and located so that the maximum illumination measured in footcandles at ground level measured at any lot line shall not exceed the standards in Table 72-58.2D, Maximum Illumination Levels, and Figure 72-58.2D Maximum Illumination Value.
Table 72-58.2D Maximum Illumination Levels
Type of Use Abutting a Lot Line [1]
Maximum Illumination Level at Lot Line
(footcandles)
Residential use or vacant land zoned for residential development
0.5
Institutional use
1.0
Commercial use or vacant land [2]
2.0
Industrial use
3.0
Parking lot
2.5
NOTES:
[1]
See Table 72-40.2, Use Table
[2]
Includes mixed-use development
(2) 
In no instance shall illumination levels within a lot or development site exceed three footcandles.
Figure 72-58.2D. Maximum Illumination Value
E. 
Signage. Lighting for signage shall be governed by the standards in § 72-59, Signage.
A. 
Light level measurements shall be made from a lot line of the land upon which light to be measured is being generated. If measurement on private property adjacent to the light-generating land is not possible or practical, light level measurements may be made at the boundary of the public street right-of-way that adjoins the land.
B. 
Measurements shall be made at established grade (ground level), with the light-registering portion of the meter held parallel to the ground pointing up. The meter shall have cosine and color correction and have an accuracy tolerance of no greater than plus or minus 5%.
C. 
Measurements shall be taken with a light meter that has been calibrated within two years.
D. 
The Development Administrator shall be responsible for enforcement of the standards in this section.