(a) 
Purpose and intent.
The purpose of this section is to:
(1) 
Provide adequate lighting in public spaces to ensure safety.
(2) 
Reduce the problems created by improperly designed and installed outdoor lighting.
(3) 
Eliminate problems of glare on operators of motor vehicles, pedestrians, and land uses.
(4) 
Minimize light trespass and light pollution.
(5) 
Reduce energy and financial costs of outdoor lighting by establishing regulations that limit the area onto which certain kinds of outdoor lighting fixtures may illuminate.
(6) 
Preserve the night sky as a natural resource and people’s enjoyment of looking at the sky and stars.
(b) 
Enforcement.
The director of development services or his designee is hereby empowered and directed to administer and enforce the provisions of this section relating to outdoor lighting.
(c) 
Applicability.
(1) 
New uses, buildings and additions.
All proposed new land uses or change of uses, developments, buildings, structures, or building additions of thirty percent (30%) or more in terms of additional dwelling units, gross floor area, seating capacity, or other expansion, either with a single addition or cumulative additions subsequent to the effective date of this provision, shall meet the requirements of this code for the entire property. For all building additions of less than thirty percent (30%) cumulative, the applicant shall only have to meet the requirements of this code for any new outdoor lighting provided.
(2) 
Nonconforming use change.
Whenever a nonconforming use, structure, or lot is abandoned for a period of 180 consecutive days and then changed to a new use according to the requirements of section 14.03.601, new and unlisted uses of the zoning ordinance, then any existing outdoor lighting shall be reviewed and brought into compliance as necessary for the entire building, structure or premises, to the maximum extent possible as determined by the director.
(3) 
Prior to code adoption.
Exterior lighting luminaries in existence on the effective date of this ordinance adoption shall be considered “legally nonconforming.” Such fixtures may be repaired, maintained and replaced. The nonconforming bulbs within a fixture shall be replaced in conformance with this section. However, exterior lighting luminaries existing on the effective date of this ordinance adoption that are located on private non-residentially used property and are found to direct light or glare to residential properties may be declared a public nuisance if the level of illumination on residential property, which is caused by the luminaries, is greater than one-quarter (1/4) footcandle. Such fixtures shall be altered or replaced to reduce the level of illumination on the residential property to a one-quarter (1/4) footcandle within two (2) months of receiving a written notice of the violation from the city.
(4) 
Fixture abandonment or damage.
In the event that an outdoor lighting fixture is abandoned or is damaged to the point of requiring repairs for safe operation, the repaired or replacement fixture shall comply with all the provisions of this code.
(Ordinance 2019-42 adopted 10/8/19)
The following standards shall apply to all exterior lighting except public street lighting and other lighting that is specifically exempted by this section.
(1) 
Illumination levels.
(A) 
Multifamily residential uses should average no more than three (3) footcandles, with a maximum of ten (10) footcandles.
(B) 
Non-residential uses, including parking lots, should average no more than six (6) footcandles, with a maximum of fifteen (15) footcandles.
(C) 
Lighting under canopies (such as service stations) and car dealerships shall not exceed forty (40) footcandles. The remainder of the property shall comply with non-residential standards, above.
(D) 
Each new development shall adequately illuminate all public parking, site entrances, and pedestrian areas, including perimeter sidewalks at all times, even if the primary use is a day-time only use.
(E) 
The illumination levels contained in the Illuminating Engineering Society of North America Lighting Handbook, as amended from time to time, shall be used as a guide for providing minimum and safe illumination levels and measurement methods.
(2) 
Spill-over.
The limit of illumination on neighboring property from one establishment shall be based on the zoning and/or use of the neighboring property. Maximum computed maintained and maximum measured footcandles at the neighboring property line shall not exceed:
(A) 
Zero (0) footcandle for single-family residential attached and single-family detached districts.
(B) 
Three (3) footcandles for multifamily, commercial, agricultural, and industrial districts and rights-of-way.
(C) 
Exception: Illumination at interior property lines on contiguous lots in a multi-tenant, non-residential development may exceed the above criteria when necessary to provide constant lighting of adjoining parking areas, fire lanes and interior access roadways as determined by the director.
(D) 
When a dispute arises regarding the district/use of an adjoining property and the allowed spill-over, the director’s decision shall be binding.
(3) 
Light pole standards.
(A) 
Height.
Lighting standards (i.e. poles) shall be sized in such a manner that the top of any luminary does not exceed thirty (30) feet above adjacent grade. Lighting standards in Industrial zoned districts may be thirty-five (35) feet in height. However, where any industrial, multifamily, or non-residential district light poles are located within 100 feet of a residential district or use, the maximum allowed height is twenty (20) feet. Within the OT, old town zoning district, the maximum permitted pole height is twenty (20) feet.
(B) 
Parking lot light poles.
All freestanding parking lot light poles shall have a maximum six (6) inch tall metal base. If a larger base is proposed, it shall be clad in masonry that matches the adjacent structures. All parking lot poles shall be placed within a landscaped area or other raised bed to distinguish it from the parking spaces and minimize vehicle contact.
(4) 
Light sources.
(A) 
Light sources or luminaries are prohibited in landscaped buffer areas and within required setback yard areas except on pedestrian walkways, hike and bike trails, and at site entrances.
(B) 
Light for outdoor advertising shall be designed to function as full cutoff-type of luminaries. Lighting intended for outdoor advertising shall be directed downward. The temporary use of lasers and spotlights that project light into the sky may be allowed, subject to the restrictions of temporary outdoor lighting in section 14.04.503, temporary outdoor lighting, below.
(C) 
All luminaries located on non-residential properties shall be designed so that the light source (bulb or lamp) is completely shielded from direct view of at a point three (3) feet above grade on the lot line abutting a residential property. In all other instances, the light source must be completely shielded from direct view of at a point five (5) feet above grade at the lot line.
(D) 
All luminaries and light sources subject to this section shall be maintained and kept in good working order.
(E) 
Wall lighting may be used to illuminate the pedestrian walkways, entrance areas, and yard areas within thirty (30) feet of the building. No roof lighting shall be used.
(F) 
All luminaries mounted on walls or on freestanding poles must be shielded and be directed downward.
(G) 
Externally illuminated signs, advertising displays, billboards, building identification, and monument signs shall use top mounted light fixtures that shine light downward and that are fully shielded or upward with pin-pointed light which are fully shielded.
(H) 
Outdoor light fixtures used to illuminate flags, statues, or any other objects mounted on a pole, pedestal, or platform shall use a very narrow cone of light for the purpose of confining the light to the object of interest and minimize spill-light and glare.
(I) 
Lighting within or around commercial windows meant to draw attention to the business is prohibited.
(J) 
Building facades and architectural features of buildings may be floodlighted or otherwise highlighted when the following conditions are met:
(i) 
Floodlight fixtures are equipped with shields and are located so as to limit the fixture’s direct light distribution to the facade or feature being illuminated;
(ii) 
The configuration of the floodlight installation shall block all view to the floodlight fixture’s lamp from adjacent properties; and
(iii) 
The maximum luminance of any floodlighted surface does not exceed the footcandles specified in the Illuminating Engineering Society of North America Lighting Handbook for floodlighting surfaces.
(K) 
All exterior lighting shall be LED.
(Ordinance 2019-42 adopted 10/8/19)
Any temporary outdoor lighting that conforms to the requirements of this section shall be allowed. Non-conforming temporary outdoor lighting may be permitted by the director only as part of a valid special events permit.
(Ordinance 2019-42 adopted 10/8/19)
(a) 
Exterior lighting plan.
A photometric plan illustrating the exterior lighting that is proposed or modified shall be submitted to the development services department. The submission shall contain, but not be limited to the following:
(1) 
Plans indicating the location of the exterior lighting on the premises, and the type of illuminating devices, fixtures, lamps, supports, reflectors, and other devices;
(2) 
Description of the illuminating devices (including a visual depiction), fixtures, pole heights, lamps, supports, reflectors, and other devices including, but not limited to, catalog cuts by manufacturers and drawings (including sections where required).
(3) 
The photometric plan shall include a table which indicates the average footcandle measurement, the maximum footcandle measurement (at any hot spots), and the footcandle measurement at the property line.
(b) 
Preparation of the photometric plan.
A certified engineer, architect, landscape architect, or lighting engineer/designer shall prepare the plan. The plan shall also contain a certification by the property owner or agent and the preparer of the plan that the exterior lighting depicted on the plan will comply with the requirements of this ordinance after installation. Once the plan is approved by the development services staff, the exterior lighting of the property shall be constructed and installed according to the approved plan.
(c) 
Additional submission.
The above required plans, descriptions and data shall be sufficiently complete to enable the reviewer to readily determine whether compliance with the requirements of this section will be secured. If such plans, descriptions and data cannot enable this ready determination, by reason of the nature or configuration or the devices, fixtures, or lamps proposed, the applicant shall additionally submit as evidence of compliance to enable such determination such certified reports of tests as will do so provided that these tests shall have been performed and certified by a recognized testing laboratory.
(Ordinance 2019-42 adopted 10/8/19)
The following are prohibited within the city:
(1) 
Design of lighting.
(A) 
“Cobra head” type lighting fixtures that are not shielded and having dished or “drop” lenses or refractors which house light sources other than incandescent light sources.
(B) 
Unshielded light sources, including bare bulbs above fifteen (15) watts.
(C) 
“Acorn” lighting.
(D) 
Decorative entrance lights mounted on a wall adjacent to doorways may be allowed by the director in spite of not meeting the design requirements listed herein.
(2) 
Moving or flashing lighting.
(A) 
Flickering or flashing lights.
(B) 
Searchlights.
(3) 
Types of lighting.
(A) 
Exposed neon lighting, except for open/closed signs hanging inside a buildings door or window.
(B) 
Mercury vapor luminaires.
(C) 
Low-pressure sodium (LPS) and high-pressure sodium (HPS) luminaires.
(D) 
Metal Halide luminaires.
(Ordinance 2019-42 adopted 10/8/19)
The following are exempt from the standards contained in this ordinance:
(1) 
Decorative seasonal lighting.
The decorative seasonal lights shall be removed within a reasonable and customary time.
(2) 
Lighting for single-family detached or single-family attached.
(A) 
The lamps have a power rating of less than or equal to seventy-five (75) watts;
(B) 
A cutoff component is incorporated in the design of the luminaries;
(C) 
The lighting level at the property line shall not exceed the maximum level specified within this section; and
(D) 
The maximum lighting level at the property line may be exceeded in cases where the lamp is turned on and off by a motion sensor and the lamp is not on for a continuous period exceeding ten (10) minutes.
(3) 
Residential party lights for social gatherings.
Such temporary outdoor lighting includes, but are not limited to, strings of lights and lanterns.
(4) 
Translucent signs.
Signs of the type constructed of translucent materials and wholly illuminated from within are exempt from the shielding requirement.
(5) 
Emergency lighting.
Temporary emergency lighting used by police, fire fighters, or other emergency services, as well as all vehicular luminaries. Hazard warning luminaries, which are required by federal and state regulatory agencies.
(6) 
Outdoor sports fields.
Because of their unique requirement for nighttime visibility and their limited hours of operations, public and commercial ball diamonds, playing fields, and tennis courts are exempt from the general standards of this section. Private ball diamonds, playing fields, and tennis courts on a single-family lot built as an accessory use to the home on that lot are subject to the requirements of this section. Lighting for these public and commercial outdoor recreational uses shall be LED and shielded to minimize light and glare from spilling over onto residential properties.
(7) 
Exceptions.
The city may vary from these requirements for any municipal project or purpose.
(Ordinance 2019-42 adopted 10/8/19)