City of Lake Saint Louis, MO Article VI Exterior Lighting

Section 425.390 Purpose.

[Ord. No. 4190, 2-1-2021]

A. The purpose of this Article is to ensure that outdoor lighting provides adequate illumination to promote safety at night, and to minimize light pollution and light spillover onto adjacent properties.

Section 425.400 Applicability.

[Ord. No. 4190, 2-1-2021]

A. This Article shall apply to all land uses unless otherwise exempted by this Article.

B. The following types of exterior lighting are exempt from the requirements of this Article, provided that they shall not create glare to motorists or result in light trespass onto adjacent properties:

1. Holiday lighting.

2. Twinkle lighting located on trees, bushes, or landscape features in mixed-use and nonresidential zoning districts.

3. Bistro lighting located in a mixed-use or nonresidential zoning district.

4. Temporary lighting of construction sites and special events.

5. Lighting of signs.

6. Lighting associated with detached homes, duplexes, and townhouses.

7. Lighting associated with public and private parks and recreational uses.

C. Modification Of Existing Exterior Lighting.

1. No property shall permanently modify, remove or reduce any exterior lighting provided before the effective date of this Code, or add additional lighting fixtures, in a way that would bring the property out of conformance with this Article or would increase the degree of any existing nonconformity.

2. The modification of any existing required lighting or the addition of new lighting fixtures shall be reviewed in accordance with Section 405.080(D), Amendments to Approved Applications.

Section 425.410 Waivers And Modifications.

[Ord. No. 4190, 2-1-2021]

A. The standards of this Article may be waived or modified through one (1) of the following procedures, except where an alternative procedure is specified in this Article:

1. Minor adjustment (Section 405.220).

2. Variance (Section 405.230).

3. Zoning Map amendment (Section 405.100) to planned unit development (Section 415.130).

Section 425.420 General Lighting Requirements.

[Ord. No. 4190, 2-1-2021]

A. Maximum on-site illumination shall not exceed ten (10) foot-candles, unless otherwise allowed in this Code. The following are exempt from this requirement:

1. Canopy lighting for gasoline stations.

2. Security lighting.

B. Light spillover onto adjacent properties shall not exceed zero (0.0) foot-candles at any property line, except where the property line is adjacent to walkways, driveways, and streets, or multi-unit, mixed-use or nonresidential developments.

Section 425.430 Prohibited Lighting Types.

[Ord. No. 4190, 2-1-2021]

A. The following types of exterior lighting are prohibited unless allowed elsewhere in this Code:

1. Unshielded lights, lamps, or floodlights that produce glare and light trespass.

2. Lights that flash, move, revolve, blink, flicker, vary in intensity, change color, or use intermittent electrical pulsation, except holiday lighting.

Section 425.440 Parking Area Lighting.

[Ord. No. 4190, 2-1-2021]

A. Poles.

1. The maximum pole height is twenty-five (25) feet.

2. The maximum base height is three (3) feet.

3. All poles and luminaries shall be black, dark bronze, grey, or other neutral color. Bases shall be unpainted concrete.

B. Shielding Of Lights.

1. All light fixtures shall be full cutoff and/or constructed so that no light rays are emitted by the installed fixture at angles above the horizontal plane.

C. Illuminance.

1. Maintained average illuminance values in parking areas associated with mixed-use, nonresidential and multi-unit residential uses shall be no less than two (2) foot-candles, and no single point shall measure less than one (1) foot-candle. Illuminance shall be measured using only the light produced on-site.

2. The acceptable uniformity ratio for lighted areas shall comply with recommended ranges adopted by the International Engineering Society of North America (IESNA) for low-, medium-, and high-activity areas.

Section 425.450 Building Lighting.

[Ord. No. 4190, 2-1-2021]

A. Except for decorative lighting, all building-mounted light fixtures shall be full cutoff and/or constructed so that no light rays are emitted by the installed fixture at angles above the horizontal plane.

B. Decorative lighting shall be permitted, provided that all light is cast against the building surface.

C. Lighting fixtures for canopies or similar structures shall be flush-mounted or recessed above the lower edge of the canopy.