The purpose and intent of this chapter is to provide regulation
of lighting systems constructed on properties within the various zones
in the city.
The city recognizes that lighting has both a practical and aesthetic
value and is an integral portion of any development. The city also
recognizes that improperly installed lighting, illegal lighting, or
improperly maintained lighting, creates impacts upon astronomical
resources within the community and creates conflicts and nuisance
impacts upon abutting properties and is wasteful of energy resources
by causing energy to be expended without producing additional useful
light.
(Ord. 515 § 10, 2023)
Words and terms as used in this chapter shall have the meanings
set forth in this section. Words or terms not defined herein shall
have the generally accepted meaning as defined elsewhere within this
title.
is the temperature, measured in Kelvin (k), to which one
would have to heat a "black body" source to produce light of similar
spectral characteristics as specified by the lamp manufacturer or,
if not specified, in accordance with the CIE 1960 standard. Low color
temperature implies warmer (more yellow/red) light while high color
temperature implies a colder (more blue) light.
means a light directing diffuser or lens which is shaped
so that it lays or falls below the horizontal plane of the bottom
of the fixture.
means the effect produced by lighting sufficient to cause
annoyance, discomfort, or loss in visual performance and visibility.
For the purposes of this chapter, glare occurs when a lamp is directly
viewable from a location off the property that it serves.
means the proportional relationship of a particular building,
structure, or streetscape element to human form and function.
refer to the lumens or foot-candles predicted or measured
from a lamp or lighting system at initial installation.
means the light-producing element or light source of a luminaire.
Examples are bulbs and tubes.
is the complete lighting unit, often referred to as a light
fixture. It consists of the lamp, optical reflector and housing, and
electrical components for safely starting and operating the lamp.
refer to the lumens or foot-candles predicted or measured
from a lamp or lighting system at the midlife of the lamp and shall
take account of the expected drop in lumen output from the lamp, as
well as normal dust on the lens of the luminaire.
occurs when the illumination intensity outside the property
boundaries exceeds one foot-candle.
(Ord. 515 § 10, 2023)
The regulations contained within this chapter shall apply in
all zones and specific plan areas within the city. These regulations
are intended to augment lighting standards and regulations in adopted
specific plans.
(Ord. 515 § 10, 2023)
A.
Lighting
permitted shall be limited to those levels necessary to provide safety
and security to the site.
B.
Use
of low intensity lighting for aesthetic purposes in order to enhance
or accent building features, public art, or landscape architectural
features of a project is encouraged. Such lighting shall not spill
over onto or extend beyond the property line or into adjacent public
right-of-way.
C.
All
lighting systems shall meet adopted uniform codes and standards of
the city.
D.
All
lighting system components shall be kept in good repair and service.
Periodic cleaning, painting and servicing of supports, globes, fixtures
and foundations is required. Poor maintenance shall be considered
a public nuisance.
(Ord. 515 § 10, 2023)
The following types of lighting shall be prohibited within the
city:
A.
Any
outdoor lighting system erected, installed, modified or reconstructed
without proper plans and permit approvals;
B.
Flashing, alternating, blinking or moving lights, other than traffic or hazard lights or those permitted under the sign regulations contained in Chapter 17.40;
C.
Unshielded
pack lighting and areawide flood lighting;
D.
High
intensity discharge mercury vapor security lights in other than rural
residential or open space/agricultural zones;
E.
Searchlights
or laser lights used on an ongoing basis for the purpose of commercial
advertising;
F.
Drop
down lens, except where the lenses are clear, nondiffusing, and do
not permit viewing of the lamp at or above the horizontal plane located
at the bottom of the fixture;
G.
Any
lighting that causes glare or spillover as defined by this chapter.
(Ord. 515 § 10, 2023)
All commercial, industrial, and institutional projects with
20 or more parking spaces and multifamily residential projects of
five or more units shall have plans for the outdoor lighting system
approved by the city's community development director or designee
prior to issuance of building permits for that project.
Each lighting plan shall detail the provision of lighting systems
for exteriors of all buildings, parking lots, loading areas, walkways,
public use areas, public art displays, fountains, or landscape areas.
Lighting plans shall be prepared, signed and certified by a
civil or electrical engineer or other person licensed and/or registered
within the state of California to prepare and certify lighting system
designs/plans.
Lighting plans shall, as a minimum, include and exhibit the
following:
A.
Style,
size, height and location of any poles used to support luminaires;
B.
Style,
size, height and location of any foundation systems (i.e., pedestals)
upon which light poles may be erected;
C.
Style,
type, location and quantity of luminaires, whether pole mounted, bollard
mounted or building mounted;
D.
Type,
wattage, lumens and correlated color temperature of lamps;
E.
Shields,
cut-off mechanisms, or diffusers used with each luminaire;
F.
Construction
structural and mounting details for all installations;
G.
All
exterior lighting plans shall include photometric calculations consisting
of a point-by-point footcandle layout based upon a minimum 25 foot
grid center extended to 25 feet beyond the property line for both
initial lighting values and maintained lighting values;
H.
Lighting
plans shall be prepared to scale, and shall be accompanied by dimensioned
detail sheets, materials catalogues, and specifications to aid in
the identification and evaluation of proposed lighting system components.
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The application for such lighting plans should be made on the
form provided by the community development department. A fee, as established
by city council resolution, is required to accompany each application
for a lighting plan.
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(Ord. 515 § 10, 2023)
A.
Lamps
shall be shielded or recessed within the luminaire to prevent visibility
or the emission of light at or above the horizontal plane located
at the bottom of the fixture.
B.
Luminaires
shall be directed away from all adjacent properties and streets/rights-of-way
to avoid glare and spillover as defined in this chapter.
C.
Maintained
lighting values for outdoor parking areas shall not exceed seven foot-candles
on 95% or more of the grid points within the parking area on the photometric
plan.
D.
Light
poles shall not exceed 25 feet in height in all commercial, industrial
and institutional zones, except within 100 feet of residential zones,
where the maximum height shall be 20 feet. Light poles in residential
zones shall not exceed 20 feet in height.
E.
All
lighting within parking lots shall be located in curbed planters.
Concrete pedestals, bases or foundations for the light pole within
the planters over six inches in height shall be decorative. Light
poles placed in hardscape areas shall be mounted flush with the surrounding
hardscape.
H.
All
lamps over 100 watts shall emit 60 lumens or more of light per watt
of electrical power.
I.
All
outdoor lighting systems shall be designed to include an automatic
shutoff control with manual override capability to reduce at least
50% of the energy usage of the system from twelve (12:00) a.m. until
one hour before daylight, unless otherwise approved by the community
development director for safety or security reasons.
(Ord. 515 § 10, 2023)
Compliance with the following guidelines shall be determined
by the community development director:
A.
Lighting
shall be consistent among fixtures used throughout the project so
that single fixtures or small groups of fixtures shall not be of unusually
high intensity or brightness such that hot spots are created.
B.
All
lighting fixtures, including luminaires, poles and pedestals, shall
be decorative, compatible with and appropriate in scale, intensity
and height to the architecture and use of the building(s) on the site
and in the surrounding area.
C.
The
correlated color temperature of the lamps shall be compatible with
the architecture and use of the building(s) on the site and in the
surrounding area.
D.
All
walkway lighting, public space lighting, and patio area lighting shall
be kept to human scale. Bollard style lighting is preferred.
(Ord. 515 § 10, 2023)
Each lighting plan shall meet the standards and guidelines of
this chapter and title, as well as those structural and electrical
codes adopted by the city which may apply.
The applicant's engineer shall prepare and certify that the
plan has been prepared in accordance with this chapter.
The city's lighting engineer shall review and approve the plans
and certify to their compliance with this chapter and any applicable
design guidelines. The city's lighting engineer shall sign all zoning
clearances necessary to issue building permits for the implementation
of the lighting plans.
Prior to final inspection, or where applicable, issuance of
a certificate of occupancy, the city lighting engineer shall cause
to be performed a field inspection of the approved lighting system
for the project. The inspection shall verify the proper construction
and installation of materials within the approved plan and determine
the extent of any errant lighting. Deviations and/or violations shall
be corrected prior to the final clearance for the project.
(Ord. 515 § 10, 2023)
The criteria of this chapter shall not apply to any of the following:
A.
Incandescent
lamps totaling 100 watts or comparable compact fluorescent lamps used
in decorative fixtures at entrances/exits of residences;
B.
Low-intensity
lighting used for aesthetic purposes in order to enhance or accent
building features, public art, or landscape architectural features,
provided that such lighting does not result in glare or spillover
as defined by this chapter and is not part of a project of which a
lighting plan is required;
C.
Athletic
field lights within a public park or school campus established pursuant
to special plans meeting recognized standards for such facilities
constructed in accordance with a photometric plan for these facilities;
D.
Navigation
beacons, aircraft warning lighting upon towers or similar structures,
hazard markers, railroad signals and crossing warning devices;
E.
Security
lighting for prisons, jail facilities, medical facilities or special
health care facilities;
F.
Traffic
control devices;
G.
Seasonal
lighting displays used in conjunction with special holidays or religious
celebrations so long as the glare is not sufficient to pose safety
hazards to pedestrians and motorists, or cause sufficient attraction
to result in creation of a nuisance or hazard to vehicular traffic;
H.
Temporary
sale or special event lighting as permitted through the issuance of
appropriate permits by the city;
I.
Repair
or replacement of individual lighting fixtures, provided that the
fixture and/or the luminaire repaired or replaced does not exceed
the intensity of the original lighting fixture;
J.
Safety
or security lighting within single-family residential neighborhoods
recommended by police or special security inspections as part of a
neighborhood watch program provided such lighting shall not create
a nuisance to abutting properties as a result of spillover. To the
extent that the prescribed lighting is not diminished in effectiveness,
all such lighting shall incorporate motion detectors, photocells or
similar devices to activate the special light fixtures but shall be
provided with a manual switching device to override the fixture when
necessary.
(Ord. 515 § 10, 2023)
It is unlawful for any person to install, replace, reconstruct
or intensify any lighting system, for which a permit is required,
upon any commercial, industrial, institutional or residential property
within the city not in compliance with the provisions of this chapter.
Any person who violates any provision of or fails to comply with any requirement of this chapter is guilty of an infraction and, upon conviction thereof, shall be punished in accordance with Chapter 1.10 of this code.
It shall be the responsibility of each occupant, property owner,
homeowners' association, tenant association, or property management
association having jurisdiction over property to ensure compliance
with the intent and provisions of this chapter. Covenants and conditions
for any property association shall contain provisions for the design,
review, approval and continued maintenance of lighting systems within
the boundaries of such association.
(Ord. 515 § 10, 2023)
Lighting systems, for which valid permits have been issued,
existing upon properties within any zone prior to the effective date
of the ordinances codified in this chapter shall be considered legally
nonconforming. As such, repair, maintenance, and replacement with
like fixtures of these lighting systems shall be permitted, unless
otherwise provided for within this chapter.
Replacement, repair or reconstruction of 25% or more of the
fixtures within an existing legal nonconforming lighting system, as
determined by the community development director, shall require that
the system be brought into conformity with the provisions of this
chapter.
Lighting systems within single-family projects found to create
a nuisance to abutting residences, adjacent open-space areas, or upon
the public right-of-way, shall be corrected in such a manner as to
remove the nuisance.
Alterations to existing legal nonconforming lighting systems
shall not be permitted except for those which result in a lighting
system for the property which is more conforming, with these provisions
or which reduce the level of nonconformity.
Whenever a project site is the subject of a major modification
to the approved development plan as defined by this code, the major
modification application shall incorporate a revised lighting system
plan in order to bring the property into conformance with this chapter.
(Ord. 515 § 10, 2023)
