Light pollution obscures the night sky, a resource important
to residents and visitors. Light trespass interferes with the quality
of life and public safety of the community. Standards for outdoor
lighting are intended to control artificial light from non-vehicular
sources that produce glare, light trespass, nuisance light and/or
degrade the night sky. These standards are intended to reduce and
eliminate nuisance glare and light trespass from poorly placed, inappropriate,
misaligned or improperly shielded light sources. It is the further
intent of these standards to conserve energy and resources as well
as to curtail and reverse the degradation of the night sky through
the regulation of the type and use of outdoor lighting while maintaining
night-time safety, utility and security.
(Ord. 1677, 7-19-2010)
All residential and commercial lighting whether on public or
private property installed in the city limits of Kalispell shall comply
with the requirements and specifications established with these regulations.
Lighting within a public or private right-of-way is not within the
scope of these regulations.
(Ord. 1677, 7-19-2010)
(1)
All outdoor lighting, including the fixture, pole, and other supporting
elements, shall be designed to complement the overall architectural
appearance of the site and prevent excessive glare.
(2)
Low voltage landscape lighting will be allowed provided it is directed
toward the object or building and does not leave the perimeter of
the site or contribute to light trespass.
(3)
Nothing herein shall be deemed to prohibit the installation of minimum
emergency lighting standards required by the applicable building and/or
fire codes.
(4)
When practical, timing mechanisms and photo cells shall be used to
reduce light levels and conserve energy during non-operational hours.
(5)
Mercury vapor lights are prohibited because of the poor color spectrum,
light intensity and inefficient energy use. Low pressure or high pressure
sodium lights and metal halide are encouraged rather than the use
of fluorescent lights.
(6)
Light fixtures or lamps shall be shielded in such a manner so that
the light emitting surface is not visible and to direct incident rays
away from all adjacent property.
(7)
Any light fixture must be placed in such a manner so that no light
emitting surface is visible from any residential area or public/private
roadway, walkway, trail or other public way when viewed at ground
level.
(8)
Exposed bulbs used for ornamental purposes that do not exceed the
equivalent of 15 watts incandescent are exempted from shielding requirements.
(Ord. 1677, 7-19-2010; amd. Ord. 1824, 3-18-2019)
(1)
Lights mounted on poles shall not be taller than 25 feet (pole height
to be calculated from grade to the top of the pole structure).
(2)
The level of lighting shall not exceed 0.3 foot candles at any residential
property line or 1.0 foot candles at any nonresidential property line,
except that the measurement along any right-of-way shall be taken
from the curb line, or, if there is no curb, the edge of the asphalt.
Measurements shall be taken from ground level. If a side or rear property
line is adjacent to a parking lot, the maximum foot candle measurement
may be exceeded provided that the increase is otherwise designed to
meet the intent of this Zoning Ordinance.
(3)
Light (including, but not limited to, pole lights, floodlights, wall
lights, etc.) shall have external shielding or shall be directed and
angled so that no light is visible above a 90 degree angle measured
from a vertical line from the center of the lamp (i.e., shall be a
full cutoff fixture) and shall not shine onto any adjacent public
right-of-way or adjacent property.
(4)
Roof illumination is not allowed.
(Ord. 1677, 7-19-2010; amd. Ord. 1771, 6-6-2016)
(1)
Architectural Accent Lighting. Fixtures used to accent architectural
features, materials, colors, style of buildings, landscaping, or art
shall be located, aimed and shielded so that light is directed only
on those features. Such fixtures shall be aimed or shielded to prohibit
light spill.
(2)
Signs.
(a)
Any interior lighted signs may not be lit at night when any face
of the sign is removed or damaged in such a way that the light may
distract or intrude on drivers or adjacent properties.
(b)
Signs that have exterior lighting must be lit from above the sign
and the light shielded except that ground lighting may be used for
ground mounted signs with a solid base (i.e., no gaps between the
sign and the framework or the ground). In all cases lighting must
be directed at the surface of the sign area.
(3)
Canopy Lighting and Lighting of Service Stations.
(a)
Light fixtures mounted on canopies shall be recessed so that the
lens cover is recessed or flush with the bottom surface (ceiling)
of the canopy or shielded by the fixture or the edge of the canopy
so that light is restrained to 90 degrees or less from vertical.
(b)
Indirect lighting may be used where light is beamed upward and then
reflected down from the underside of the canopy. When this method
is used, light fixtures must be shielded so that direct illumination
is focused exclusively on the underside of the canopy.
(c)
Lights shall not be mounted on the top or sides (fascias) of the
canopy.
(d)
Lights shall be fully recessed and shielded to ensure that no light
source is visible from or causes glare in the public right-of-way
or adjacent properties.
(4)
Outdoor Sports or Recreation Fields or Performance Areas. Lighting
of outdoor recreational facilities (public or private), such as, but
not limited to, football fields, soccer fields, baseball fields, softball
fields, tennis courts, special event or show areas, are exempt from
this Zoning Ordinance provided that the lights are to be used only
when the facility is in use.
(5)
Flags. Flags of the United States or Montana, and flags displayed
with either the United States and/or Montana flags, may be illuminated
from below provided such lighting is focused primarily on the individual
flag or flags to limit light trespass and spill into the dark night
sky.
(6)
Searchlights. The operation of searchlights for any purpose other
than an emergency need is prohibited.
(7)
Towers. Lighting on towers is prohibited except as required by regulations
of the Federal Aviation Administration.
(Ord. 1677, 7-19-2010)
At the time of site plan approval by the Kalispell Site Development
Review Committee, the applicant must supply a lighting plan in accordance
with these regulations and shall demonstrate conformance with these
standards. At a minimum the lighting plan shall include:
(1)
Manufacturer specifications regarding the light fixture, proposed
locations, mounting heights and direction of all exterior lighting.
(2)
If the building, signage or landscaping is proposed to be lit, relevant
drawings shall be provided showing the type, location and direction
of the light fixture.
(3)
Photometric data of all parking lot lighting and other descriptive
information on the fixtures and/or a computer generated photometric
grid showing foot candle reading every 10 feet within the property
or site and 10 feet beyond the property boundaries.
(Ord. 1677, 7-19-2010)
(1)
Commercial. Lighting for commercial uses including but not limited
to parking lot and building lighting that does not conform to these
regulations shall be brought into compliance with those provisions
relating to full cutoff fixtures and/or lamps by January 1, 2010.
A one year extension may be considered by the Kalispell City Council
based upon a specific hardship and upon written request.
(2)
Residential. Residential lighting that does not conform to these
regulations shall be brought into compliance with those provisions
relating to fixtures and lamps by January 1, 2007.
(Ord. 1677, 7-19-2010)
The attached figures are incorporated as guidelines for public
information and enforcing this section (see Figure 11).
|
Figure 11: Lighting Examples
 |
 |
 |
 |
(Ord. 1677, 7-19-2010)
