The city council declares as follows:
Properly designed and installed outdoor night lighting can benefit
everyone by increasing safety, enhancing the city's nighttime character
and providing security. These benefits must be balanced with the fact
that outdoor lighting that is improperly designed and/or installed
can create problems of excessive glare, light trespass, and higher
energy use. Excessive glare can be annoying and may cause safety problems.
Light trespass can reduce a sense of privacy. Higher energy use increases
utility costs and contributes to global climate change. There is a
need for a lighting ordinance that recognizes the benefits of outdoor
lighting and provides clear guidelines to minimize any negative effects.
Appropriately regulated and properly installed, outdoor lighting contributes
to the safety and welfare of the residents, business and visitors
of the city.
(Ord. 1552 § 1, 2011)
The purpose of this chapter is to regulate outdoor lighting
in order to reduce or prevent light pollution, to reduce or prevent
glare and light trespass, to promote the conservation of energy, and
to preserve and enhance neighborhood character and night-sky beauty
of the city of Laguna Beach, while also respecting the need for safety
and security.
(Ord. 1552 § 1, 2011)
As used in this chapter:
means any directional lighting that emphasizes a particular
object or draws attention to a particular area.
means a lamp that spreads light over a wide area.
means a luminaire that allows no direct light emissions above
the horizontal plane (see definition of horizontal plane).
means light fixtures shielded or constructed so that no direct
light emissions occur above the horizontal plane (see definition of
horizontal plane).
means stray, unshielded light striking the eye that results
in discomfort glare, such as bright light causing squinting of the
eyes; and/or disabling glare, such as bright light that reduces the
ability to see into shadows.
means a ninety degree angle measured from a vertical line
from the bottom of the lamp or bulb extended to the ground.
means the measure of the color temperature of a light source.
means the light-producing source installed in the socket
portion of a luminaire.
means general night sky glow caused by scattering artificial
light in the atmosphere and resulting in a decreased ability to see
the natural night sky.
means light emitted by a fixture that directly illuminates
beyond the property on which the fixture is installed.
means a measurement of light energy generated by a light
source.
means a complete lighting unit, including the lamps or bulbs,
together with the parts required to distribute the light, to position
and protect the lamps, and to connect the lamps to the power supply.
means one lumen per square meter, a unit of luminance.
means a method to control light rays so as to avoid light
trespass or glare.
means any lamp that incorporates a reflector or a refractor
to concentrate the light output into a directed beam in a particular
direction.
means a unit of electric power consumed by a lamp or bulb.
(Ord. 1552 § 1, 2011)
(a)
Amortization
Period. Any luminaire or fixture that does not conform to this chapter,
but which lawfully existed as of the date of the enactment of the
ordinance codified in this chapter, shall be abated or made to conform
within ninety days of the property owner or business owner receiving
written notice that the luminaire or fixture is nonconforming.
(b)
Any person or business may submit an application to the community development director for an administrative exemption from, or a delay in completing corrective action, pursuant to the requirement of Section 25.05.020. The request shall state fully:
(1)
The circumstances and conditions that justify an administrative exemption;
and
(2)
The circumstances and conditions that would result in a financial
hardship or deprive the applicant of reasonable use of the land or
building; and
(3)
How granting an administrative exemption will not be injurious to
the neighborhood or otherwise detrimental to the public health, safety,
or welfare.
(c)
Compliance with this chapter shall be administered and enforced by the city of Laguna Beach community development department pursuant to the provisions of Chapter 1.15 of the Municipal Code. Any adjacent neighboring property owner affected by glare or trespass shall first discuss the concern with the owner of the light fixture prior to filing a service request with the city. The filing of service requests shall be limited to adjacent neighboring property owners directly impacted by light trespass.
(d)
The
provisions of this chapter shall be applicable to all federal, state,
and local governmental agencies to the maximum extent permitted by
law.
(e)
In
the event of a conflict between the provisions of the chapter and
any other section of the Municipal Code, the more restrictive requirement
shall apply.
(Ord. 1552 § 1, 2011)
The following general standards shall apply to all outdoor lighting
installed after the effective date of the ordinance codified in this
chapter:
(a)
Light
trespass that results in glare is prohibited.
(b)
Outdoor
lighting must be hooded, fully shielded, and aimed downward. Examples
of acceptable and unacceptable light shielding and hooding are shown
in Table A.
(c)
Mercury
vapor and low pressure sodium lighting are not permitted for street
lighting and commercial applications.
|
Table A
Acceptable Shielding, Hooding and Aiming of Outdoor Light
Fixtures
The following schematics show what is acceptable and what is
unacceptable in the city of Laguna Beach:
|
 |
 |
(Ord. 1552 § 1, 2011)
The following are exempt from the provisions of this chapter:
(a)
Fixtures
not fully shielded shall be allowed only if less than three thousand
Kelvin and/or seven hundred fifty lumens per fixture.
(b)
Traffic
control signals and devices.
(c)
Street
lights installed prior to the effective date of the ordinance codified
in this chapter. New or replacement lighting shall comply with this
chapter.
(d)
Temporary
emergency lighting (e.g., for use by fire, police, or repair personnel).
(e)
Moving
vehicle lights.
(f)
Residential
holiday lighting between November 15th and January 15th and turned
off no later than twelve a.m. Residential holiday lighting, as defined
by city council resolution, between January 16th and November 14th
limited to no more than seven consecutive days and turned off no later
than twelve a.m.
(g)
Existing
outdoor sports-field lights installed prior to the effective date
of the ordinance codified in this chapter. New or replacement lighting
shall comply with this chapter.
(h)
Special
events approved by the city pursuant to a temporary use permit and
emergency or city approved night-time construction.
(i)
Safety
lights not exceeding two thousand four hundred lumens (one hundred
fifty watts incandescent equivalent) per fixture and that are controlled
by a motion sensor switch and do not remain on longer than five minutes
after activation.
(j)
Low
voltage landscape lighting that does not exceed four hundred lumens
(thirty-five watts incandescent equivalent) per fixture or string
of lights.
(k)
Approved
lighting fixtures for any historic resource listed on the register.
Nonconforming lighting fixtures consistent with the character of a
historic resource on the register may be exempted, subject to the
approval of the community development director. Approved fixtures
shall be consistent with the architectural period and architecture
style of the of the resource and shall not exceed seven hundred fifty
lumens (sixty watt incandescent equivalent) and three thousand Kelvin.
(l)
Accent
lighting for art located in public places subject to the approval
of the community development director.
(m)
Lighting
for U.S. flags.
(n)
Lighting
required for the purpose of public safety or crime prevention and
approved by the chief of police.
(Ord. 1552 § 1, 2011; Ord. 1670 § 9, 2022)
