A. 
In order to preserve and enhance the unique qualities of Santa Barbara's residential neighborhoods and its visual environment, it is essential to encourage the highest quality of outdoor night-time lighting through the adoption of lighting standards.
B. 
This chapter is intended to reduce problems created by improperly designed and incorrectly installed outdoor lighting, particularly in the City's residential zones. It is intended to provide for safety and security concerns, without contributing to the problems associated with glare, light trespass, or skyglow, and to promote the efficient use of energy.
C. 
This chapter establishes certain regulations and design review requirements intended to limit the uses of outdoor lighting to certain appropriate land uses and to prohibit the use of certain lighting fixtures.
D. 
This chapter recognizes the benefits of outdoor night-time lighting and provides clear guidelines for its design and installation to help maintain and complement Santa Barbara's character.
For the purposes of this title, the following words and phrases shall have the meanings set forth herein:
Adjacent.
Immediately next to.
Ambient Lighting.
The general character and overall level of illumination in a particular area.
Direct Upward Light Emission.
Light rays that are emitted from a fixture that are above a horizontal plane intersecting that light source or fixture.
Glare.
Brightness in the field of view that is sufficiently greater than the amount to which the eye is adapted, causing annoyance, discomfort, or loss of visual performance and visibility.
Laser Lights.
A laser source light, or any similar high intensity light, used for outdoor advertising or entertainment, when projected above the horizontal.
Light Source.
Any man-made light source, or collection of light sources that produce light by any means.
Light Trespass.
Light produced by a Lighting Fixture that illuminates a surface beyond the boundaries of the property on which it is located.
Lighting Fixture.
A complete unit consisting of a Light Source together with a housing and parts designed to distribute and aim the light, located outside a building, including, but not limited to, fixtures attached to any part of a structure, located on the surface of the ground, or located on free standing poles.
Low Voltage.
Operating at 24 volts or less or as defined by Section 551-2 of the National Electrical Code (1993 edition) or as such Code is subsequently amended from time to time.
Nuisance Lighting.
Includes, but is not limited to, Glare, Light Trespass, and Skyglow.
Outdoor Lighting.
The night time illumination of an outside area or object, or any man-made light emitting object located outdoors.
Outdoor Recreational Court.
Includes, but is not limited to, a field, court, or other area, whether permanent or temporary, designed or used for playing any sport or game, such as tennis, volleyball, basketball, or badminton, or similar outdoor game or sport, but not including lighting for a swimming pool which is located beneath the surface of the water.
Searchlight.
A mobile or fixed projector designed to produce an approximately parallel beam of light which is aimed above the horizontal plane, the use of which includes, but is not limited to, advertising for special events.
Shielded.
A Lighting Fixture having a configuration of the housing or optics that prevents a direct view to the light source from normal viewing angles (i.e., less than 20° above the horizontal plane).
Skyglow.
The adverse effect of brightening of the night sky due to man-made lighting.
A. 
General prohibitions. The use of the following Lighting Fixtures shall be prohibited in all zones of the City:
1. 
Mercury vapor and low-pressure sodium fixtures and lamps except when used for landscape lighting accent purposes.
2. 
Searchlights, Laser Lights, or similar high intensity outdoor lights except pursuant to a special lighting event permit granted pursuant to subsection C of this section.
3. 
Lighting Fixtures mounted in such a way as to illuminate a roof or an awning.
4. 
Lighting Fixtures mounted to aim light only towards a property line.
5. 
Lighting Fixtures mounted in a way that is distracting to motorists or in a way that interferes with the safe operation of a motor vehicle, as may be determined by the City Engineer.
6. 
Lighting that is blinking, moving, or which changes in intensity except small temporary lighting fixtures installed and used only during the period between the last week of November and first week of January of the following year.
B. 
Outdoor recreational court lighting in residential areas. The lighting of an Outdoor Recreational Court is prohibited in all residential zones of the City except where such a Court is located on a property used for nonresidential purposes in accordance with the applicable provisions of Title 28 for nonresidential uses in residential zones.
C. 
Special lighting events. Upon the application of a property owner or a business within the City, the Community Development Director may grant a temporary permit for the use of a searchlight, laser light or other similar lighting fixture for a period not to exceed eight consecutive hours, provided that no such permit shall be granted for any one property (or business location) within the City more often than five times during any 180 day period and provided further that in no case shall a searchlight, laser light, or other similar lighting fixture be operated pursuant to such a permit between midnight and sunrise.
The use of the following Lighting Fixtures and Light Sources are exempted from regulation pursuant to this chapter:
A. 
Low voltage fixtures. Low Voltage lighting except for those Fixtures regulated pursuant to Section 22.75.030.A.6 of this chapter.
B. 
Controlled fixtures. A Lighting Fixture controlled by a motion detector in a residential zone provided the motion detector is predominantly in the off mode and it is installed to minimize Nuisance Lighting.
Those projects for which design review is required by the Architectural Board of Review pursuant to Chapter 22.68, the Single Family Design Board pursuant to Chapter 22.69, or the Historic Landmarks Commission pursuant to Chapter 22.22, shall also be reviewed for consistency with the City Outdoor Lighting Design Guidelines approved by resolution of the City Council.
(Ord. 5035, 1997; Ord. 5416, 2007)
A. 
Generally. Outdoor lighting in residential zones and outdoor lighting on real properties adjacent to residential zones shall be designed, installed, and operated so that it is compatible with the ambient lighting of the neighborhood in which it is located. Such lighting shall be designed, installed, and operated to control glare, prevent light trespass onto adjacent areas, minimize direct upward light emission, promote effective security, avoid interference with safe operation of motor vehicles. The minimum intensity needed for the intended purpose shall be used.
B. 
Enforcement. The staff of the Community Development Department shall be responsible for the enforcement of this section provided, however, that enforcement shall occur only upon a written complaint and upon a determination by City enforcement staff that the light or lights constitutes Nuisance Lighting which is unreasonably and negatively affecting a neighboring resident. Upon such a determination, the light or lights shall constitute a public nuisance which may be abated by the City and which, if necessary, may be enjoined by a court of competent jurisdiction.
C. 
Enforcement measures. Prior to the initiation of legal measures for the enforcement of this section, the staff of the Community Development Department shall attempt to remedy a reasonable complaint concerning Nuisance Lighting by recommending or, if necessary, by requiring the property owner of the property from which the light emanates to take appropriate steps to eliminate the Nuisance Lighting. Such steps may include, but are not limited to, each of the following (or any combination thereof) in the priority listed herein:
1. 
The use and application of appropriate lighting equipment, fixture locations, shielding, light sources and illumination intensities, and through the elimination of unnecessary lighting.
2. 
Nuisance Lighting control through the use of vegetation, landscaping, fences or similar screening methods and fixture aiming adjustments.
3. 
Restrictions on the hours of operation or by requiring the use of motion detector switches or timers to trigger the lights only on an as needed basis.
4. 
The preparation and implementation of a professional lighting plan designed to avoid Nuisance Lighting which plan is reviewed by and acceptable to the Architectural Board of Review or the Historic Landmarks Commission, as applicable.
D. 
Private right of action. Any aggrieved person may enforce the provisions of this section by means of a civil action seeking injunctive relief in a court of competent jurisdiction.
(Ord. 5035, 1997)