Note: Prior ordinance history: Ord. 826.
A.
The
outdoor lighting requirements are intended to minimize light pollution
and light trespass, and preserve the night-time environment in the
city by:
1.
Encouraging
the use of electrical engineers or lighting professionals to design
outdoor lighting systems.
2.
Requiring
that all lighting products are designed to be energy efficient and
utilize technology to control the lighting in a manner to meet the
lighting design criteria of this chapter.
3.
Implementing
guidelines that define the characteristics of the lighting fixture
distribution that reduces light pollution and preserve the night-time
environment.
B.
The
chapter is not intended to prevent the use of any design, products
or method of installation. The director may approve any such proposed
alternate if the design meets the intent of the chapter to provide
high quality lighting performance, glare control, reduced light trespass
to preserve the night-time environment.
(Ord. 1272 § 1, 2014)
A.
All
luminaries with total lamp mean lumens above four thousand shall be
full-cutoff type and meet the requirements illustrated in Figure 24.16-1.
 Figure 24.16-1
|
B.
Commercial
and Residential Zones. Lighting sources (lamps) approved for commercial
and residential zones are light emitting diodes (LED), light emitting
plaza (LEP), compact fluorescent lamps (CFL), multifaceted reflector
halogen lamps (MR) and incandescent lamps. High pressure sodium (HPS)
lamps are prohibited.
C.
Lighting
sources approved for public or municipal outdoor recreation facilities
are light emitting diodes (LED), light emitting plaza (LEP) and metal
halide (MH). High pressure sodium (HPS) lamps are prohibited.
D.
Low
pressure sodium lighting is not approved.
E.
Public or Municipal Outdoor Recreational Facilities. All lighting for field sports shall conform to the requirements of Section 24.16.040 Light trespass. Sports lighting fixtures shall us the latest technology to control spill light from the lighting fixture as illustrated in Figure 24.16-2.
 Figure 24.16-2
|
F.
Outdoor
recreational facility lighting for sports courts (tennis, basketball,
skating, volleyball, etc.) shall use full-cutoff optics. The maximum
pole heights for sport courts shall be thirty feet.
G.
Pedestrian
scale post top luminaries with total lamp lumens of less than six
thousand may be non-cutoff if the fixture meets the requirements to
prevent direct view of the lamp source by shielding the source with
louvers and/or opaque lens. Internal fixture reflector with a clear
lens that distributes the light out of the fixture in a manner that
promotes glare control may also be allowed. Refractors are not recommended
to shield the lamp source.
H.
Low
level lighting (bollards, step lights etc.) with total lamp lumens
of less than three thousand five hundred may be non-cutoff if the
fixture meets the requirements to prevent direct view of the lamp
source by shielding the source with louvers and/or opaque lens. Internal
fixture reflector with a clear lens that distributes the light out
of the fixture in a manner that promotes glare control may also be
allowed.
I.
All
outdoor lighting mounting heights shall conform with the following:
1.
Residential
Zones. Maximum of eighteen feet height in residential zones. The lamp
lumens shall be fifteen thousand lumens or less and provide for full-cutoff
features.
2.
Commercial
Zones. Maximum of thirty feet high in commercial zones. Total lamp
lumens shall be one hundred thirty thousand lumens or less with full-cutoff
fixtures.
J.
Luminaries
used primarily for walkway lighting (pedestrian scale lighting) shall
be mounted no higher than ten feet above grade.
K.
Wall-Mounted
Lighting. Residential wall-mounted lighting luminaries with total
lamp lumens of less than one thousand eight hundred may be non-cutoff
if the fixture meets the requirements to prevent direct view of the
lamp source by shielding the source with louvers and/or opaque lens.
Internal fixture reflector with a clear lens that distributes the
light out of the fixture in a manner that promotes glare control may
also be allowed. Refractors are not recommended to shield the lamp
source.
L.
Commercial
wall-mounted lighting luminaries with total lamp lumens of less than
fourteen lumens per inch (total size of the wall light fixture face
in inches) but not exceeding four thousand lumens total may be non-cutoff
if the fixture meets the requirements to prevent direct view of the
lamp source by shielding the source with louvers and/or opaque lens.
Internal fixture reflector with a clear lens that distributes the
light out of the fixture in a manner that promotes glare control may
also be allowed. Refractors are not recommended to shield the lamp
source.
M.
Security
pole and wall pack lighting fixtures in commercial and residential
zones shall only be allowed if the fixture lumens and shielding meet
the requirements outlined. The following types of fixtures are not
approved in any application.
 Figure 24.16-3
|
N.
The
maximum Color Correlated Temperature (CCT) for all outdoor lighting
shall be limited to four thousand Kelvin.
(Ord. 1272 § 1, 2014; Ord. 1382 § 3, 2022)
A.
Lighting
used to highlight architectural features, landscape, building façades,
fountains, etc., shall be manufactured for the intended uses and shall
be adjusted and/or aimed during the night to insure light is focused
on the designated object.
B.
Lighting
luminaries intended to be directional shall be provided with sources
less than four thousand lumens and must be furnished with shields,
louvers and/or lenses to insure that the direct view of the lamp source
is reduced. An internal fixture reflector system with a clear lens
that distributes in a specific direction is designed to promote glare
control. Refractors are not recommended to shield the lamp source.
C.
Landscape
lighting fixtures intended to be directional onto landscape features
shall be provided with sources less than one thousand lumens and must
be furnished with shields, louvers and/or lenses to insure that the
direct view of the lamp source is reduced.
(Ord. 1272 § 1, 2014)
A.
Purpose.
The city does not encourage the use of street lighting. However, the
purpose of this section is to establish a set of guidelines with which
to regulate the installation, operation and maintenance of overhead
street lighting in the city. The city seeks to make provisions for
street lighting that will be beneficial to city residents, and to
provide for this lighting in an orderly, efficient and equitable manner.
This section serves to establish a uniform standard for location of
lights within the city.
B.
General
Requirements. All street lighting installed in or for the benefit
of a public right-of-way shall conform to the following:
1.
All
lighting standards, fixtures and lamp sources shall be established
in accordance with specifications determined by the city engineer.
2.
All
lighting standards in the public right-of-way will be installed and
maintained by the Southern California Edison Company (SCE) per SCE
Schedule LS-1, unless otherwise approved by the city engineer.
C.
Luminaire
and Lamp Requirements.
1.
High
pressure sodium (HPS) street lighting in single-family residential
districts is prohibited.
2.
Light
emitting diodes (LED) street lighting in single-family residential
districts shall use nine thousand five hundred lumens or less and
shall be full-cutoff luminaries with house side shields.
3.
Pedestrian
scale post top luminaries in single-family residential districts with
total lamp lumens of less than four thousand five hundred may be non-cutoff
if the fixture meets the requirements to prevent direct view of the
lamp source by shielding the source with louvers and/or opaque lens.
Internal fixture reflector with a clear lens that distributes the
light out of the fixture in a manner that promotes glare control may
also be allowed. Refractors are not recommended to shield the lamp
source. House side shields may be required to reduce the light directed
towards residences.
D.
Street
Lighting Locations.
1.
Residential
street lighting shall be positioned at intersections.
2.
Residential
street lighting shall be positioned mid-block on streets greater than
eight hundred feet in length.
3.
Residential
street lighting shall be positioned at the end of cul-de-sacs when
the street is greater than three hundred feet in length.
4.
Commercial
and industrial streets shall have lighting positioned at intersections.
5.
Other
locations and/or spacing of lighting may be required by the city engineer.
6.
Locations
other than intersections where the lighting will provide an aid to
traffic or public safety may be required by the city engineer.
(Ord. 1272 § 1, 2014; Ord. 1382 § 4, 2022)
A.
Applicants
for any project that requires approval for outdoor lighting systems
shall include a site plan, fixture cuts and a photometric plan illustrating
that the proposed outdoor lighting system complies with the requirements
outlined in the chapter. The submission shall contain, but not be
limited to, four complete sets of the following:
1.
A
photometric lighting plan prepared by the project engineer showing
point-by-point lighting levels for the entire lot and ten feet beyond
the project property lines. The point by point photometric plan shall
provide lighting levels at a maximum of ten-foot intervals. Photometric
calculations shall use a .85 light loss factor for all photometric
plans.
3.
Photometric
statistics representing the lighting and calculations in an area equal
to eighty percent of the useable parking area, as shown in Figure
24.16-5:
 Figure 24.16-5
|
B.
Submittal
and drawings shall be signed by a licensed professional engineer or
architect taking responsibility for the lighting design. The name
and company information for the plan preparer shall be clearly stated
on the submittal drawings.
C.
A description
of the outdoor light fixtures including a manufacturer cut sheet,
product specifications and shielding information for each lighting
fixture used shall be included in the submittal package.
(Ord. 1272 § 1, 2014)
A.
The
performance of the lighting submittal will be evaluated based on the
following criteria when the lamp source is LED or LEP.
B.
High
pressure sodium (HPS) lamps are prohibited.
C.
The
illumination levels at exits, entrances, loading zones, and collector
lanes shall be approximately twice the average illumination of the
adjacent parking area or the adjoining street, whichever is greater.
D.
Building
exit illumination levels shall meet the foot-candle requirements established
by the California Electrical Code and all associated building codes.
(Ord. 1272 § 1, 2014; Ord. 1382 § 5, 2022)
A.
The
requirements to minimize the off-site illumination onto adjoining
properties shall include lower pole heights, glare shields and repositioning
lighting poles.
B.
The
photometric plan provided for the project shall illustrate the off-site
foot-candles up to the point when 0.00 foot-candles is illustrated.
C.
Lighting
poles shall not be positioned at the property line adjacent to residential
properties.
D.
Provide
lighting fixtures with internal house side shielding so that no more
than one-tenth foot-candle is measured horizontally at the adjacent
property lines.
E.
Private
tennis courts will be required to meet off-site lighting requirements.
Photometric lighting plans shall be provided for all private tennis
court lighting systems.
F.
All
building-mounted luminaries shall be a maximum of eighteen feet above
ground to the luminaire when adjoining residential property lines
and a maximum of twenty feet above ground in other areas around the
building.
G.
Wall
pack lighting fixtures shall meet full cut-off requirements and shall
be included in all photometric lighting plans.
H.
Where
the adjacent property is residential, all lighting shall be arranged
so as to direct the light away from the adjacent property by providing
materials, methods, and designs so that no more than 0.25 foot-candle
is measured at five feet inside the adjacent property.
I.
Hillside
lighting shall be designed with the following:
1.
Hillside lighting systems must be submitted with a carefully detailed photometric plan illustrating horizontal and vertical foot-candles and a written justification why hillside lighting should be allowed. Lighting plans shall be reviewed as part of a Hillside Development Plan as described in Title 25.
2.
Hillside
lighting shall utilize light emitting diodes (LED) sources and be
furnished with glare shields.
3.
Luminaries
with total lamp lumens above sixteen thousand lumens shall not be
used.
4.
All
hillside lighting shall be turned off no later than ten p.m. and remain
off until the following evening.
(Ord. 1272 § 1, 2014; Ord. 1355 § 11, 2020; Ord. 1382 § 6, 2022)
A.
All
parking lot and building lighting systems shall meet the state of
California Title 24 for outdoor lighting control requirements.
B.
On-premises
advertising signs may be illuminated all night.
C.
Outdoor
recreational facility sports lighting shall be turned off at ten p.m.
with partial sports lighting remaining on until ten-thirty p.m. to
allow participants to safely vacate the field.
(Ord. 1272 § 1, 2014)
A.
Nonconformance.
All outdoor light fixtures existing and legally installed prior to
the effective date of the ordinance codified in this chapter are exempt
from the requirements of this chapter, except that when existing luminaries
are reconstructed or replaced, such reconstruction or replacement
shall be in compliance with this chapter.
B.
Holiday
Decorations. Lights used for holiday decorations are exempt from the
requirements of this chapter and may be installed forty-five days
prior to the holiday and removed thirty days after the holiday.
C.
American
Flag Lighting. Lights used for illumination of flags as required by
law are exempt from this chapter.
(Ord. 1272 § 1, 2014)
A.
Temporary
exemptions must be approved by the director prior to installation.
Temporary lighting is required, but not limited to, parades, special
civic or public events, special business events, grand openings of
businesses, etc.
B.
Any
individual, business and/or organization may submit a written request
to the director for a temporary exemption from the requirements of
this chapter. The request shall be made on a temporary use application
along with the associated fee.
C.
The
temporary lighting application shall include the following:
1.
Name,
address, and telephone number of the applicant.
2.
Location
of the outdoor light fixtures for which the exemption is requested.
3.
Use
of the outdoor light fixtures involved.
4.
Duration
of the requested exemption(s).
5.
Type(s)
of outdoor lighting to be used including the lamp source, lumens,
shielding and glare controls.
6.
Site
plan illustrating the locations of all lighting equipment.
7.
Written
description and justification for the temporary lighting.
D.
The
director shall have ten business days from the date of receipt of
the "request for temporary exemption" to approve or disapprove the
request. The applicant will be notified of the decision in writing.
(Ord. 1272 § 1, 2014)
Means advertising structures and signs used for outdoor advertising
purposes; not including on-premises (exterior portable or interior)
advertising signs.
The general overall level of lighting in an area from lighting
not subject to this chapter.
Strength of the sensation that results from viewing surfaces
from which the light comes to the eye.
Unit of luminous intensity. One candela is one lumen per
steradian. Formerly called the candle.
Luminous intensity expressed in candelas.
The city engineer of the city of Palm Desert or a representative(s)
designated by the city engineer of the city of Palm Desert.
The difference between the luminaire luminous brightness
and the brightness of the surrounding area.
Lighting products used for decorative effects versus lighting
performance. Examples of decorative lighting include, but are not
limited to, fountain lighting, lighting fixtures (pole, post or bollard
style) creating a visual effect with low lumen output, led commercial
outdoor string lighting, building wall sconce and chandelier lighting
with low lumen lamp sources.
The director of community development for the city of Palm
Desert or a representative(s) designated by the director of the city
of Palm Desert.
Glare resulting in reduced visual performance and visibility.
It is often accompanied by discomfort.
Glare that produces discomfort, but does not necessarily
diminish visual performance.
The assembly that holds the lamp in a lighting system. It
includes the elements designed to give light output control, such
as a reflector (mirror) or refractor (lens), the ballast, housing,
and the attachment parts.
One foot-candle is one lumen per square foot. This simply
means the amount of light which hits one square foot.
Outdoor light fixtures shielded or constructed so that all
of the light rays emitted by the fixture are projected below a horizontal
plane passing through the lowest point on the fixture from which light
is emitted. Drop or sag lensed type fixtures are not allowed. IESNA
classification that describes a luminaire having a light distribution
in which zero candela intensity (visible light) occurs at or above
an angle of ninety degrees above nadir. Additionally, the candela
per one thousand lamp lumens does not numerically exceed one hundred
(ten percent) at or above a vertical angle of eighty degrees above
nadir. This applies to all lateral angles around the luminaire.
All outdoor lighting used for, but not limited to, walkways,
parking lots, equipment yards, outdoor security, outdoor retail or
restaurant areas, automotive dealers (display areas only), assembly
or repair areas, recreational facilities and similar applications
where the use of the space or area requires accurate color rendition
and light for ease of movement.
The lighting from a single or multiple lighting fixtures
that causes one of the following conditions:
In a discharge lamp, the emitted energy (light) is produced
by the passage of an electric current through a gas. High-intensity
discharge includes mercury, metal halide, and high pressure sodium
lamps. Other discharge lamps are LPS and fluorescent. Some such lamps
have internal coatings to convert some of the ultraviolet energy emitted
by the gas discharge into visual output.
A gas-discharge lamp that uses sodium in an excited state
to produce light. There are two varieties of such lamps: low pressure
and high pressure. Low-pressure sodium lamps are the most efficient
electrical light sources, but their yellow light restricts applications
to outdoor lighting such as street lamps. High-pressure sodium lamps
have a broader spectrum of light than the low pressure, but still
poorer color rendering than other types of lamps. Low pressure sodium
lamps only give monochromatic yellow light and so inhibit color vision
at night.
Illuminating Engineering Society of North America.
Light is produced by a filament heated to a high temperature
by electric current. These lamps include MR lamps, tungsten halogen
lamps, PAR and R lamps. EISA 2007 set new performance requirements
for certain common light bulbs, requiring that these bulbs become
approximately twenty-five to thirty percent more efficient than the
light bulbs by 2012-2014. Overall, the intent of this is to bring
into the market more efficient light bulbs. Some new incandescent
products could be introduced by the effective dates of the law, including
a bulb by General Electric that will decrease the amount of energy
required. Non-incandescent bulbs, such as compact fluorescent (CFL)
and light emitting diodes (LED) already meet the Tier I standards
introduced.
The internal electrode less lamp or induction light is a
gas discharge lamp in which the power required to generate light is
transferred from outside the lamp envelope to the gas inside via an
electric or magnetic field, in contrast with a typical gas discharge
lamp that uses internal electrodes connected to the power supply by
conductors that pass through the lamp envelope.
Any legal installation of outdoor light fixtures after the
effective date of the ordinance codified in this chapter.
An electronic semiconductor device that emits light when
an electric current passes through it. They are considerably more
efficient than traditional light bulbs and provide for long lamp life.
LEDs are used in many applications such as flat-screen video displays,
indoor and exterior lighting fixtures.
An unwanted effect of manmade outdoor lighting that contributes
to the effects of sky glow, light trespass, and/or glare.
An undesirable condition in which exterior light is cast
where it is not wanted.
A unit measurement of a light bulb, arc tube or light emitting
diodes (LED) light output expressed as initial lumens or lumen output.
A complete lighting unit consisting of a lamp or lamps and
the parts designed to distribute the light, to position and protect
the lamp(s), and to connect the lamp(s) to the power supply. (Also
referred to as fixture.) The complete lighting unit, including the
lamp, the fixture, and other parts.
The mercury vapor lamp is a high intensity discharge lamp.
It uses an arc through vaporized mercury in a high pressure tube to
create very bright light directly from its own arc. Mercury lamps
are not approved in the city of Palm Desert.
This type of lamp is also known as an MH lamp. It is an HID
lamp (high intensity discharge), which means it provides most of its
light from the electric arc within a small discharge tube. It is becoming
increasingly popular due to its good quality white light and good
efficiency. The most prominent use of the MH lamp is in stadiums and
sports fields. It is also used widely for parking lots and street
lighting in urban areas.
The distance from the finished grade to the top of the lighting
fixtures including any lighting fixture foundation.
An area, street or facility which is owned or managed by
the city of Palm Desert or is associated with a city of Palm Desert
facility such as parks, recreation facilities or a city-owned or managed
building such as City Hall.
Any development in previously unimproved areas. This includes
new developments generally recognized as planned housing, industrial
or commercial developments.
A luminaire having a light distribution in which no limitation
of light intensity occurs above ninety degrees above nadir.
Lighting for off-street parking in public, private, municipal
or restricted parking areas. All lighting positioned off the street
in public and private properties, i.e., parking lots, building lighting,
walkway lighting, parks, and fenced yards.
Any lighting product intended and designed for outdoor use
to provide illumination of a defined area or subject.
An area, other than a public street, designed or used primarily
for parking.
A luminaire mounted at no more than ten feet above finished
grade and intended to illuminate a walking path or small pedestrian
area.
The quantitative measurement of light level and distribution.
This information is developed with programs designed to illustrate
foot-candles numerically on a project site plan.
Plasma lamps are a type of gas discharge lamp energized by
radio frequency (RF) power which produce high illuminance for exterior
applications such as streets, large big box parking lots and sports
lighting applications. The LEP lamps have a life ranging from thirty
thousand to fifty thousand hours, a CRI of 95. Their LEP lamp is able
to operate up to fifty percent more efficiently than conventional
HID (high-intensity discharge lamp) lamps while generating the same
maintained lumens as a conventional four hundred watt system at about
half the energy. The technology also allows the lamp to be dimmed
to fifty percent of the rated lamp lumen output.
Public, municipal or private facilities designed and equipped
for the conduct of sports, leisure time activities, and other customary
and usual recreational activities. Outdoor recreational facilities
include, but are not limited to, fields or stadiums for softball,
baseball, football, soccer, golf courses, driving ranges and other
"field sports," and courts for tennis, basketball, volleyball, handball
and other "court sports."
Controlling light output by means of reflection (mirror).
Controlling light output by means of refraction (lens).
Outdoor light fixtures designed or constructed so that ninety-five
percent of the light rays emitted by the fixture are projected below
the horizontal plane passing through the photometric center of the
fixture from which the light is emitted. A luminaire light distribution
in which the candela per one thousand lamp lumens does not numerically
exceed fifty (five percent) at or above an angle of ninety degrees
above nadir, and two hundred (twenty percent) at or above a vertical
angle of eighty degrees above nadir. This applies to all lateral angles
around the luminaire.
Any adverse effect of manmade light that produces direct
lighting into the sky from the lamp compartment that is not shielded.
Lighting for all streets or highways including intersections.
(Ord. 1272 § 1, 2014)
