Definitions.
Words and phrases used in this Section shall have the meanings as set forth in this section. Words and phrases not defined herein shall be attributed their common, ordinary meaning unless the context clearly requires otherwise. The word "shall" denote a mandatory statement. Headings and captions are for reference purposes only.
Accent Lighting:Lighting used to emphasize or draw attention to a special object or building.
Amortization.The process of allocating the cost of an asset over a period of time.
B-U-G Rating.A luminaire classification system with ratings for backlight (B), uplight (U), and glare (G)
Barn Light-style Fixture:Fixtures, usually with a mercury vapor lamp, that have a round, plastic, translucent lens that refracts and scatters the light, often allowing the source of the light to be seen off-premises to constitute light trespass and light emissions to escape above the horizontal plane to pollute the night sky.
Bulb.A light emitting device containing a light source.
Canopy.A covered, unconditioned structure with at least one side open for vehicular and/or pedestrian access. (An unconditioned structure is one that may be open to the elements and has no heat or air conditioning.)
Correlated Color Temperature (CCT):A measure in degrees Kelvin (°K) of light's warmness or coolness. Lamps with a CCT of less than 3,000 degrees Kelvin are yellowish or pinkish and considered "warm." Lamps with a CCT greater than 4,000 degrees Kelvin are bluish-white and considered "cool." The American Medical Association has recommended that outdoor lighting be 3,000 degrees Kelvin or less, preferably 2,700 degrees or less. The U.S. Federal Trade Commission (FTC) requires that all new lighting with a medium screw base (typical of household lighting) sold in the U.S. must indicate on the packaging the Kelvin temperature of the light produced by the lighting element. The U.S. Department of Energy (DOE) encourages voluntary labeling for other types of lighting. In the absence of labeling, CCT information may be obtained from the manufacturer.
Diffuser.A translucent enclosure which surrounds or covers a light source, and through which can be seen no semblance of the image of the light source.
Drop Lens or Sag Lens Fixture.A fixture, typically seen on older street lights or parking lot lights, where the lens extends below the lowest opaque part of the fixture such that light is scattered above the horizontal plane.
Electronic Pricing Sign.A display, typically seen at service stations, consisting of LEDs or other light emitters that indicates the current price of a product.
Extraterritorial Jurisdiction (ETJ):The unincorporated area that is contiguous to the corporate boundaries of the municipality and, in the case of a municipality with fewer than 5,000 inhabitants, is located within one-half mile of those boundaries.
Festoon or Bistro-type String Lights:Low-output lamps consisting of small individual bulbs, often globular in shape, on a string; may have bulbs of clear or colored glass; the filament may or may not be visible.
Fixture.An outdoor lighting assembly containing one or more lamps and including any lenses, reflectors, and/or shields designed to direct the light onto a surface or at a point in space. (see also "Luminaire")
Floodlight.A fixture and/or illuminating element designed to emit light over a broad area.
Fully-Shielded Fixtures.Fixtures, as installed, that are designed or shielded in such a manner that all light rays emitted by the fixture, either directly from the lamps or indirectly from the fixture, are projected below a horizontal plane running through the lowest point on the fixture where the light is emitted.
Glare:Light, entering the eye directly from the source of an illumination or indirectly from reflective surfaces, that causes a person of average sensibilities visual discomfort or reduced visibility. Excessive glare can be a negative safety factor, particularly for older people and the visually-impaired.
Gooseneck Fixture.A lighting fixture of many styles, typically with a long, curved metal tube connecting the illuminating element with the building or other structure and supporting a deep enclosure in which the illuminating element can be mounted such that no part of the element extends beyond the bottom of the enclosure. Gooseneck fixtures are somewhat nostalgic and reminiscent of times past. The City of Blanco encourages the use of gooseneck outdoor lighting fixtures as they are both night sky-friendly and support the City's efforts to retain its rural, small town ambiance.
Grandfathering Provision.A provision of the ordinance that exempts from the ordinance lighting fixtures in place and operating on the date of adoption of the ordinance.
Grandfathering with Sunset Provision.A provision of the ordinance that establishes a time limit for grandfathering exemptions after which the fixtures must be in compliance with the ordinance.
Incandescent Bulb.A traditional source of illumination consisting of a transparent or translucent glass housing containing a wire filament that emits light when heated by electricity.
Initial Lumens.The manufacturer-specified number of lumens of light generated by a lamp at the beginning of its service lifetime, not accounting for losses associated with lamp age.
Lamp.A light-emitting device or structure containing a light source. This includes but is not limited to a bulb, a tube, or an LED array.
LED:Light Emitting Diode.
Light Pollution:Any adverse effect of artificial light including, but not limited to sky glow, light trespass, and glare. Light pollution washes out starlight in the night sky, disrupts ecosystems, wastes energy, compromises citizen safety and security, and is documented to have adverse effects on human health.
Light String:Any number of bulbs, LEDs, or other light emitters connected with wire in a linear or two-dimensional array, not contained within the structure of a fixture, used for either illumination or decoration, and supported in any manner. (see also "Rope Lights")
Light Trespass:Light that falls beyond the property that it is intended to illuminate. If the source of the illumination, usually a light bulb, is visible beyond the property boundary, light trespass has occurred. The City of Blanco considers light trespass to be a nuisance in the legal sense of the term.
Lighting.Any source of light that does not include natural light emitted from celestial objects, fire, or other natural forms of illumination. The term includes any type of lighting, fixed or movable, designed or used for outdoor illumination of buildings or homes, including lighting for billboards, streetlights, canopies, gasoline station islands, searchlights used for advertising purposes, externally or internally illuminated on- or off-premises advertising signs, and area-type lighting. The term includes luminous elements or lighting attached to structures, poles, the earth, or any other location.
Logo.A representation or symbol adopted by a business, organization, or individual intended to promote instant public recognition.
Low Voltage Lighting.Landscape lighting typically uses luminaries having a rated initial lumen output of 540 lumens or less.
Lumen:The unit of measurement (often abbreviated "lm") used to quantify the amount of light produced by a bulb or emitted from a fixture (as distinct from "watt," a measure of power consumption). A "lumen" is to light as a "gallon" is to gasoline, i.e., it is a measure of quantity. An incandescent bulb typically produces 10–17 lumens per watt; a Compact Florescent Light (CFL) bulb typically produces 40–70 lumens per watt. Light Emitting Diode (LED) fixtures typically produce far more lumens per watt. The U.S. Federal Trade Commission (FTC) requires that all new lighting with a medium screw base (typical of household lighting) sold in the U.S. must indicate on the packaging the number of lumens produced by the lighting element. The U.S. Department of Energy (DOE) encourages voluntary labeling for other types of lighting. In the absence of labeling, lumen information may be obtained from the manufacturer.
Lumens per Net Acre.The total number of initial lumens produced by all lamps utilized in outdoor lighting on a property divided by the number of net acres or parts of a net acre with outdoor illumination on the property.
Luminaire.The complete lighting unit (fixture), consisting of a lamp, or lamp and ballast(s) (when applicable), together with the parts designed to distribute the light (reflector, lens, diffuser), to position and protect the lamps, and to connect the lamps to the power supply.
Motion Sensor.An electronic device to control outdoor lighting such that lights are operating only when a moving object is or recently has been present.
Net Acre.A piece of land measured in acres exclusive of rights-of-way, waterways, drainage areas, or other nondevelopable areas.
Nonconforming Lighting.Outdoor lighting fixtures that do not conform to the requirements of this Section after the date of its adoption.
Nuisance.Any condition that substantially interferes with the use and enjoyment of property by causing unreasonable discomfort or annoyance to persons of ordinary sensibilities.
Outdoor Lighting:Temporary or permanent lighting that is installed, located, or used in such a manner as to cause light rays to shine outdoors. Except as exempted herein, Nonresidential lighting fixtures that are installed indoors that cause light to shine outdoors are considered outdoor lighting for the purposes of this Section.
Rebuttable Presumption.A presumption that is taken to be true unless someone comes forward to contest it and prove otherwise.
Refractive Lens Cover.A plastic or glass cover on an outdoor lighting fixture that scatters light away from the fixture.
Reverse Channel Signage.Signage consisting of opaque letters and/or symbols typically mounted several inches in front of an opaque surface such as a wall and illuminated by LEDs, bulbs or other light emitters embedded within the letters or symbols themselves such that the letters and symbols stand out in front of the reflected light.
Rope Lights:Any number of bulbs, LEDs, or other light emitters connected with wire in a linear or two-dimensional array, wholly enclosed in plastic covering and used for either illumination or decoration. (see also "Light Strings")
Sconce.A type of light fixture, usually decorative, that is attached to a wall in such a way that it uses only the wall for support,
Sky Glow:The brightening of the nighttime sky that results from scattering and reflection of artificial light by moisture and dust particles in the atmosphere. Sky glow is caused by light escaping above the horizontal plane to the detriment of the night sky.
Specular Reflector.A reflector that has a mirror-like surface that reflects an image (no matter how imperfect or distorted) of a light source.
Spotlight:A fixture designed to light only a small, well-defined area.
Uplighting.Lighting that is directed in such a manner as to project light rays above the horizontal plane running through the lowest point of the fixture where light is emitted.
Wall Pack Fixtures:Fixtures of a variety of styles that commonly are attached to the exterior wall of a building or other structure and flood an area with light.