The purpose of this chapter is to create standards for outdoor lighting in order to:
A. 
Prevent nuisances created by light pollution, glare, and light trespass caused by inappropriate or misaligned light fixtures and over-lighting;
B. 
Improve nighttime public safety, utility, and security;
C. 
Promote lighting practices and systems that conserve energy;
D. 
Phase out existing nonconforming fixtures, including those owned by the Town and other public agencies; and
E. 
Preserve the dark night sky.
(Ord. 21-501 § 9)
A. 
New Outdoor Lighting. All outdoor lighting fixtures installed after the effective date of the ordinance codified in this chapter and thereafter maintained upon private property, public property, or in the public right-of-way shall be fully shielded and use directional lighting methods, including, but not limited to, fixture location and height.
B. 
Existing Outdoor Lighting. All existing outdoor lighting fixtures installed prior to the effective date of the ordinance codified in this chapter shall be addressed as follows:
1. 
To immediately address nuisances caused by improperly installed, unshielded, or misdirected fixtures, all existing outdoor lighting fixtures shall be adjusted or modified to the extent practical to reduce or eliminate glare, light trespass, and light pollution.
2. 
All existing outdoor lighting fixtures shall be modified to meet the requirements of this chapter for the entire property when located on a property that is part of the following applications:
a. 
Design review;
b. 
Use permit;
c. 
Subdivision; or
d. 
Building permit for a new structure or additions to buildings that result in an increase of 25% or more of the existing gross floor area, seating capacity, or parking spaces (either with a single addition or cumulative additions).
Such applications are required to include an outdoor lighting plan pursuant to Section 17.132.050 of this chapter. Conformity shall occur prior to final inspection, when applicable.
3. 
All existing outdoor lighting fixtures on property used for commercial, residential, institutional, public, and semi-public purposes not in conformance with this section shall be brought into conformance within five years from the effective date of the ordinance codified in this chapter.
C. 
The Zoning and Design Review Board and Town Council are responsible for the approval of lighting plans and may approve, deny, or require modifications to any outdoor lighting plan in order to meet the purpose of this chapter.
(Ord. 21-501 § 9)
The following are exempt from the provisions of this chapter:
A. 
Local festivals and seasonal displays (between November 15th and through the second week of January of the following year) using multiple low wattage bulbs (approximately 15 lumens or less) provided that they do not constitute a fire hazard, create a nuisance, and are maintained in a safe and attractive condition;
B. 
Vehicular lights and all temporary emergency lighting needed by the Police and Fire Departments, or other emergency services;
C. 
All temporary lighting used for the construction or repair of roadways, utilities, and other public infrastructure; and
D. 
All lighting required by State or Federal regulatory agencies.
The Planning Officer may authorize additional property specific exemptions when proposed outdoor lighting does not conflict with the purposes of this section. An application for such an exemption must be made in writing and include an outdoor lighting plan pursuant to Section 17.132.050 of this chapter. Temporary lighting for special events shall be reviewed in this manner.
(Ord. 21-501 § 9)
The following general standards apply to all nonexempt outdoor lighting fixtures:
A. 
Nuisance Prevention. All outdoor lighting fixtures shall be designed, located, installed, aimed downward or toward structures, and maintained in order to prevent glare, light trespass, and light pollution. Outdoor lighting fixtures aimed against structures shall be totally contained by the structure to result in no off-site glare. Luminaires that do not allow light to escape above an 85-degree angle measured from a vertical line from the center of the lamp extended to the ground are preferred.
B. 
Maintenance. Fixtures and lighting systems shall be in good working order and maintained and aligned in a manner that serves the original design intent of the system.
C. 
Lighting Levels. Outdoor lighting installations shall be designed to avoid harsh contrasts in lighting levels between the project site and the adjacent properties. The Town Council may, by resolution, adopt standards for maximum or minimum lighting levels for various zoning districts and for public streets, sidewalks, or trails, as developed by the Planning & Building Department. The Illuminating Engineering Society of North America (IESNA) RP-33, Lighting for Exterior Environments, shall be used as a guideline including, but not limited to, the location types shown in Table 17.132-1 below. The Town may restrict lighting to a level less than the IESNA recommended guideline.
Table 17.132-1
Location
Maximum Illumination (footcandles)
Average Illumination (footcandles)
Parking Lot
5.0
2.5
Perimeter parking
3.0
1.5
Property Boundary
0.5
 
Adjacent to residential
0.5
 
Approach and driveways
1.5
 
Within 10 feet of driveway at property line
0.5
 
Accessory Uses
3.0
 
Within 15 feet of residential
0.5
 
Within 15 feet of nonresidential
1.0
 
Within 15 feet of approach
1.5
 
Building Exteriors
5.0
 
Streets and Roadways
 
 
Local
 
0.7
Collector
 
0.9
Arterial
 
1.6
D. 
Lamp Types. Metal halide (MH) or high-pressure sodium (HPS) lamps are preferred for all new commercial area lighting (parking lot and yard lights) and street lighting installed after the effective date of the ordinance codified in this chapter due to good color rendering and good energy efficiency. Low pressure sodium (LPS) lighting may be used for area lighting but shall not be used by itself in outdoor light fixtures due to poor color rendition and the need by public safety personnel to identify color in the nighttime environment. A combination of low-pressure sodium lighting and other type(s) of full spectrum lighting (e.g., metal halide) may be used if color rendition can be maintained. Low wattage incandescent or compact fluorescent lamps are preferred for residential lighting.
E. 
Fixture Types. All new outdoor lighting shall use full cut-off luminaires with the light source downcast and fully shielded with no light emitted above the horizontal plane, with the following exceptions:
1. 
Fixtures that have a maximum output of 400 lumens (equivalent to one 40-watt incandescent bulb) or less, regardless of the number of bulbs, may be left unshielded provided that it has an opaque top or is under an opaque structure to prevent the light from shining directly up. However, partial (e.g., obscured glass) or full shielding is preferred to control light output in all situations.
2. 
Fixtures that have a maximum output of 1,000 lumens (equivalent to one 60-watt incandescent bulb) or less may be partially shielded using a semi-translucent barrier, provided that the lamp is not visible from off-site, no direct glare is produced, and the fixture has an opaque top or is under an opaque structure to keep light from shining directly up (e.g., a low-output style wall pack).
3. 
Floodlights with external shielding shall be angled provided that no light is directed above a 45-degree angle measured from the vertical line from the center of the light extended to the ground, and only if the luminaire does not cause glare or light to shine on adjacent property or public rights-of-way and does not emit light above the horizontal plane. Photocells with timers that allow a floodlight to go on at dusk and off by 11:00 p.m. are encouraged. Unshielded floodlights are prohibited.
F. 
Accent Lighting. Architectural and landscape features may be illuminated by up-lighting, provided that the light is effectively contained by the structure, the lamps are low intensity to produce a subtle lighting effect, and no glare or light trespass is produced. For national and state flags, public art, or other objects of interest that cannot be illuminated with down-lighting, upward lighting may only be used in the form of low intensity, narrow cone spotlight that confines the illumination to the object of interest and minimizes spill-light and glare.
G. 
The provisions of this chapter are not intended to prevent the use of any design, material, or method of installation or operation not specifically prescribed herein, provided that the Planning Officer has approved any such alternative. An alternative proposal may be approved if it provides at least approximate equivalence to the applicable specific requirements of this section, or if it is otherwise satisfactory and complies with the purpose of this chapter.
H. 
The Town of Yountville reserves the right to further restrict outdoor lighting, including, but not limited to, pole height and level of illumination, when it is deemed in the public interest consistent with the purpose of this chapter.
(Ord. 21-501 § 9)
A. 
An outdoor lighting plan shall be submitted in conjunction with an application for design review, use permit, subdivision, or building permit for a new structure or addition(s) of 25% or more in terms of gross floor area, seating capacity, or parking spaces (either with a single addition or cumulative additions). An outdoor lighting plan is required for all new outdoor lighting installations on commercial (includes multifamily residential project of four or more units), public, and institutional properties. The Planning Officer may request outdoor lighting plans from applicants for other types of projects due to project location, size, or proposed use, as necessary. An outdoor lighting plan shall include at least the following:
1. 
Manufacturer specification sheets, cut sheets, or other manufacturer provided information for all proposed outdoor lighting fixtures to show fixture diagrams and light output levels;
2. 
The proposed location, mounting height, and aiming point of all outdoor lighting fixtures (a site plan is preferred); and
3. 
If building elevations are proposed for illumination, drawings for all relevant building elevations showing the fixtures, the portions of the elevations to be illuminated, the illuminance level of the elevations, and the aiming point for any remote light fixture.
B. 
If needed to review the proposed outdoor lighting fixture installation, the Planning Officer may require additional information following the initial outdoor lighting plan submittal, including but not limited to a written narrative to demonstrate the objectives of the lighting, photometric data, Color Rendering Index (CRI) of all lamps and other descriptive information on the fixtures, computer generated photometric grid showing footcandle readings every 10 feet within the property or site and 10 feet beyond the property lines (An iso-footcandle contour line style plan is acceptable), and/or landscaping information to describe potential screening.
(Ord. 21-501 § 9)
A. 
The installation of any new fixture not in conformance with this chapter is prohibited after the effective date of the ordinance codified in this chapter.
B. 
No outdoor lighting fixtures shall be installed, aimed, or directed to produce light that spills over into neighboring properties or the public right-of-way. Light trespass is prohibited.
C. 
No outdoor lighting fixture may be installed or maintained in such a manner to cause glare visible from off-site.
D. 
No outdoor lighting fixture may be operated in such a manner as to constitute a hazard or danger to persons, or to safe vehicular travel.
E. 
Blinking, flashing, moving, revolving, flickering, changing intensity, and changing color lights are prohibited.
F. 
The installation of new mercury vapor (MV) lamps is prohibited except for agricultural buildings when full cut-off fixtures are used; existing mercury vapor lamps shall be retrofitted to be shielded downward (e.g., with a Hubble Sky Cap) or replaced.
G. 
Search lights, laser source lights, or any similar high-intensity light is prohibited except in emergencies by police and fire personnel or at their direction, or for approved temporary lighting under a special event permit issued by the Planning Officer.
(Ord. 21-501 § 9)
All outdoor lighting for commercial signs shall conform to the provisions of this chapter. Externally illuminated signs, advertising displays, billboards, and building identification shall use top-mounted light fixtures which shine light downward, and which are fully shielded. Light bulbs or lighting tubes used for sign illumination shall not be readily visible from the vehicular travel lanes, adjacent public rights-of-way, or adjoining properties. The intensity of sign lighting shall not exceed that necessary to illuminate and make legible a sign from the approved location of view, such as pedestrian walkway, adjacent travel way or closest Town street.
(Ord. 21-501 § 9)
A. 
Where playing fields or other special activity areas are to be illuminated, lighting fixtures shall be mounted, aimed, and fully shielded so that the illumination falls within the primary playing or task area and immediate surroundings and so that no direct off-site light trespass or glare is produced.
B. 
The main lighting shall be turned off as soon as possible following the end of an event. Where feasible, a low-level lighting system shall be used to facilitate patrons leaving the facility, cleanup, and other closing activities.
(Ord. 21-501 § 9)
Incorrect installations, poor choice of fixtures, and over-lighting can result in unnecessarily high-energy costs. The following recommendations are intended to encourage the efficient use of energy for lighting purposes:
A. 
All nonessential outdoor commercial and residential lighting is encouraged to be turned off after business hours and/or when not in use.
B. 
Where practical, outdoor lighting installations are encouraged to include timers, dimmers, sensors, or photocell controllers that turn the lights off during daylight hours to reduce overall energy consumption and eliminate unnecessary lighting. Sensor activated fixtures should not be triggered by activity off the subject property.
C. 
When selecting new outdoor lighting, the full cost of operation over the life of the fixture(s) should be considered. Substantial annual energy savings may be realized by using quality efficient fixtures.
D. 
Indiscriminate and excessive lighting should be avoided. Light should be directed only to where it is needed with the appropriate intensity.
(Ord. 21-501 § 9)
It is unlawful to install or operate any outdoor lighting fixture in violation of this chapter. Any person violating any provisions of this chapter may be subject to the provisions of Chapter 17.228, Compliance and Enforcement, of this title. In addition, any outdoor lighting fixture erected or maintained contrary to the provisions of this chapter may be declared to be a public nuisance subject to the procedures set forth in Municipal Code Chapter 8.05. Such remedies are in addition to and may be sought or imposed concurrently with, any other remedy provided by law, regulation, or ordinance.
(Ord. 21-501 § 9)
The Planning Officer is hereby empowered and directed to administer, enforce, and monitor compliance with the provisions of this chapter relating to outdoor lighting control.
(Ord. 21-501 § 9)