[HISTORY: Adopted by the Village Board of the Village of
Williams Bay as § 15.03 of the 2011 Code. Amendments noted
where applicable.]
The purpose of the light ordinance is to regulate outdoor night
lighting fixtures to preserve and enhance the area's dark sky while
promoting safety, conserving energy and preserving the environment
for astronomy. Yerkes Observatory does much research and study by
observing and taking pictures of the heavens through telescopes and
for that purpose requires a clear atmosphere and as little as possible
interference from ground lighting, and the Village appreciates that
the Observatory is located within its boundaries and is willing to
do everything reasonably possible to aid it in its research and study;
therefore, this chapter is enacted in furtherance of such public purpose.
As used in this chapter, the following terms shall have the
meanings indicated:
An outdoor artificial illuminating device, whether permanent
or portable, used for illumination or advertisement, including searchlights,
spotlights and floodlights, whether for architectural lighting, parking
lot lighting, landscape lighting, billboards or streetlighting.
A fixture that is shielded in such a manner that light rays
emitted by the fixture, either directly from the lamp or indirectly
from the fixture, are projected at least 15° below a horizontal
plane running through the lowest point on the fixture where light
is emitted.
All outdoor lighting fixtures shall be shielded, except incandescent
fixtures 150 watts or less and other sources of 70 watts or less.
All outdoor lighting shall not exceed the illumination levels
recommended by the Illuminating Engineering Society of North America
(IES).
Metal halide fixtures shall be filtered. Filtering means any
outdoor light fixture which has a glass or acrylic enclosure. Quartz
glass does not meet this requirement.
B.
No outdoor recreational facility, whether public or private, shall
be illuminated after 11:00 p.m. except to conclude any recreational
or sporting event or other activity conducted, which is in progress
prior to 11:00 p.m. at a ballpark, school ball field, outdoor amphitheater,
arena or similar facility.
C.
Search lights. Advertising search lights are prohibited.
D.
Advertising signs in which light is produced by glass tubing filled
with neon, argon, and/or krypton.
E.
Outdoor advertising signs of the type constructed of translucent
materials and wholly illuminated from within.
F.
Recreational lighting which requires upward illumination and architectural
illumination of public buildings for aesthetic reasons are excluded
provided the illumination is turned off at 12:00 midnight.
Display lot lighting shall be turned off within 30 minutes after
closing of the business. Under no circumstances shall the full illumination
of the lot be permitted after 11:00 p.m. Any lighting used after 11:00
p.m. shall be used as security lighting.
All architectural lighting shall be of 150 watts of or less
(incandescent) or 70 watts or less (other types) and be extinguished
no later than 11:00 p.m. Lights shall have at least 90% of their light
falling on the illuminated structure.
No new mercury vapor outdoor lighting fixtures shall be sold
or installed after June 1, 1999. No replacement equipment or bulbs
for mercury vapor lighting fixtures shall be sold or installed in
the Village of Williams Bay after January 1, 2001.
The following are exempt from the requirements of this chapter:
A.
Outdoor lighting fixtures existing and legally installed prior to
the effective date of this chapter; however, any replacement of said
lighting fixtures must comply with this chapter as set forth above.
Any person, firm, entity or corporation violating the provisions
of this chapter shall be required to pay a forfeiture of not more
than $500 for each day the violation continues after being issued
a citation.
