The purpose of this chapter is to regulate lighting to balance
the safety and security needs for lighting with the city's desire
to limit light pollution from outdoor sources, preserve dark skies,
maintain darkness for night sky viewing, and ensure that light trespass
and glare have negligible impact on surrounding property (especially
residential) and roadways.
(Ord. No. 1000 § 4, 2022)
The requirements of this chapter apply to all new and existing
development. Whenever a person is required to obtain a building permit,
electrical permit, and/or approval of a planning entitlement, the
applicant shall submit sufficient information for the approving authority
to determine whether the proposed lighting will comply with the requirements
of this chapter.
(Ord. No. 1000 § 4, 2022)
The following items shall be exempt from the requirements of
this chapter:
A.
Temporary
lights used for holiday decorations.
B.
Emergency
lighting erected for official purposes by local, state, or federal
agencies.
C.
Lighting
for temporary uses and special events permitted consistent with this
code.
(Ord. No. 1000 § 4, 2022)
The following types of lighting are prohibited:
A.
Neon tubing or band lighting (including LCD, LED, and other technologies) on buildings and/or structures as articulation in lieu of a physical architectural element/feature, except accent lighting as approved through design review (section 17.20.040).
B.
Search
lights, laser source lights, or any similar high-intensity light,
except for emergency use by police or fire personnel or at their discretion,
or for approved temporary lighting for a special event approved by
the city.
C.
Lighting
fixtures operated in such a manner as to constitute a hazard or danger
to persons or to safe vehicular travel.
D.
Illumination
of entire buildings.
E.
Roof-mounted
lighting except for security or fire safety purposes.
F.
Moving,
flashing, or animated lighting.
(Ord. No. 1000 § 4, 2022)
The requirements listed below shall apply to all outdoor lighting.
A.
Nuisance
prevention. All outdoor lighting shall be designed, located, installed,
directed downward or toward structures, fully shielded, and maintained
in order to prevent glare, light trespass/spillover onto adjacent
properties, and light pollution.
B.
Maintenance.
Fixtures and lighting shall be maintained in good working order and
in a manner that serves the original design intent.
1.
Lighting
of all types shall be regularly maintained to ensure continuous function/operation.
This shall include all energizing and support infrastructure associated
with the lighting fixture.
2.
Lighting
fixtures shall remain free of graffiti.
3.
All
finishes applied to light fixtures shall be regularly maintained to
ensure that all degradations to the fixtures due to environmental
conditions, physical damage, or general use.
C.
Shielding.
Except as otherwise exempt, all outdoor lighting shall be recessed
and/or constructed with full downward shielding in order to reduce
light and glare impacts on trespass to adjoining properties and public
rights-of-way. Each fixture shall be directed downward and away from
adjoining properties and public rights-of-way, so that no light fixture
directly illuminates an area outside of the project site intended
to be illuminated. See Figure 17.58.050-2 (Shielding and Maximum Height
of Freestanding Outdoor Light Fixtures).
D.
Level
of illumination. Outdoor lighting shall be designed to illuminate
at the minimum level necessary for safety and security, to avoid harsh
contrasts in lighting levels between the project site and adjacent
properties, ensure compatibility with the character of the surrounding
neighborhood, and limit excess ambient light to maintain darkness
for night sky viewing (especially in rural, neighborhood, hillside,
and open space areas). Proposals for all lighting for new and redevelopment
projects shall include the submittal of a photometric plan for review
and approval. Illumination requirements are provided in Table 17.58.050-1
(Illumination Requirements).
|
TABLE 17.58.050-1 ILLUMINATION REQUIREMENTS
| |||
|---|---|---|---|
|
Category
|
Where Measured
|
Required Illumination (minimum or maximum)
|
Notes
|
|
Public, civic, and religious buildings
|
|
Permitted to be fully illuminated during hours of operation.
After hours, may be dimmed or turned off such that only lighting essential
to security or safety shall be maintained.
|
|
|
General
|
|
|
|
|
Parking lots, driveways, trash enclosures, public phones, group
mailboxes
|
Within 2-foot radius of object edge
|
1.0 lumen (minimum) and 4.0 lumens (maximum)
|
At all hours
|
|
Parking lots for banks, convenience stores, check cashing businesses
|
At point of highest and lowest light level
|
1.5 lumen (minimum) and 4.0 lumens (maximum)
|
During operating hours
|
|
Pedestrian walkways, including paseos
|
Center of walkway at point of highest and lowest light level
|
0.5 lumen (minimum) and 2.0 lumens (maximum)
|
Only applies to walkways intended for use after dark Applies
to all paseos
|
|
Nonresidential structures, entryways, and doors
|
5-foot radius of door (each side)
|
1.0 lumen (minimum)
|
During hours of darkness
|
|
Adjacent residential property
|
At structure and rear setback line
|
0.1 lumen (maximum)
|
Equivalent to moon's potential ambient illumination
|
E.
Signs. Lighting of signs shall be in compliance with chapter 17.74 (Sign Regulations for Private Property).
F.
Sports
fields/outdoor activity areas. Where playing fields or other specialty
activity areas are to be illuminated, lighting fixtures shall be mounted,
aimed, and shielded so that the light falls within the primary playing
area and no significant off-site light trespass is produced. Additionally,
the lights shall be turned off within one hour after the end of the
event.
G.
Wireless telecommunication facilities. Wireless telecommunication facilities and related equipment shall be unlit except as provided in chapter 17.106 (Wireless Communicator Facilities).
H.
Maximum
height of freestanding outdoor light fixtures. The maximum height
of freestanding outdoor light fixtures shall be as follows:
1.
On
residential properties: 12 feet.
2.
On
nonresidential properties adjacent to residential properties: five
feet.
3.
On
industrial properties: 25 feet.
4.
On
properties not noted as above: 20 feet.
5.
The
height of a freestanding outdoor light fixture shall be measured from
the finish grade, inclusive of the pedestal, to the source of the
illumination in the fixture does not include decorative elements attached
to the top of the fixture. See Figure 17.58.050-2 (Shielding and Maximum
Height of Freestanding Outdoor Light Fixtures).
|
FIGURE 17.58.050-2 SHIELDING AND MAXIMUM HEIGHT OF FREESTANDING
OUTDOOR LIGHT FIXTURES
 |
I.
Energy-efficient
fixtures required. Outdoor lighting shall utilize energy-efficient
fixtures and lamps such as LED, high-pressure sodium, metal halide,
low-pressure sodium, hard-wired compact fluorescent, or other lighting
technology that is of equal or greater efficiency.
J.
Accent
lighting. Architectural features may be illuminated by uplighting,
provided that the lamps are low intensity to produce a subtle lighting
effect and no glare or light trespass is produced. Wherever feasible,
solar-powered fixtures shall be used.
(Ord. No. 1000 § 4, 2022)
