(A) 
On-site lighting standards are established to create a safe and secure environment during hours of darkness and reduce or prevent light pollution by minimizing glare.
(B) 
Light fixtures subject to the standards in this section are outdoor artificial illuminating devices, outdoor fixtures, lamps, and other similar devices, permanently installed or portable, used for flood lighting, general illumination, or advertisement. Such devices include, but are not limited to, lights for:
(1) 
Buildings and structures;
(2) 
Recreational areas;
(3) 
Parking lot and maneuvering areas;
(4) 
Landscape areas;
(5) 
Streets and street signs;
(6) 
Product display areas;
(7) 
Building overhangs and open canopies;
(8) 
Holiday celebrations;
(9) 
Construction lights.
(C) 
The following light fixtures or uses are exempt from complying with the outdoor lighting standards of this section. These exemptions do not prevent the City from adoption of later ordinances that may address the retrofitting or removal of outdoor lighting fixtures.
(1) 
All outdoor light fixtures lawfully installed and operating prior to the July 1, 2022 ordinance codified in this section, and not prohibited by this section. This exemption does not apply if an existing light fixture is replaced. The addition of supplementary shielding and/or re-aiming of existing fixtures that shine direct illumination or visible glare beyond the property line where the fixture is installed are encouraged to help improve safety and quality of life.
(2) 
Residential low wattage lighting, as defined below, used for yards and driveways. These low wattage lights must not shine, glare, emit direct illumination, or cast a shadow onto adjacent property.
(3) 
Commercial and industrial low wattage lighting used to highlight driveways and landscaping or installed to a building provided they are properly aimed and shielded to not shine visible glare onto the public right-of-way or onto adjacent or nearby properties.
(4) 
Up-lighting intended to highlight part of a building or landscaping; provided, that the light distribution from the fixture is effectively contained by an overhanging architectural element or landscaping element and does not shine beyond the intended target including into the night sky. Such containment elements may include, but are not limited to, awnings, dense shrubs, or year-round dense evergreen tree canopies which will contain or limit illumination of the sky.
(5) 
Correctional Institutions. Exterior lighting for correctional facilities must be shielded high-intensity discharge lighting except at the immediate entry area, in which case other lighting may be used that conforms to the intent of this section.
(6) 
Low wattage lights used as decorations, such as holiday lights, for no more than 60 days in a calendar year are exempt from the requirements of this section.
(7) 
Carnivals and fairs that require the use of temporary outdoor lighting fixtures are exempt except that permanent installations at dedicated sites must conform to the requirements of this section.
(8) 
U.S. flags displayed by top-mounted lighting only. The illumination of all flags other than the U.S. flag must be extinguished at the end of public business hours or by 10:00 p.m., whichever is later.
(9) 
Temporary lighting for television or movie film productions, roadway or utility construction or building construction not to exceed 60 days in any 1 location. Permanent installations at dedicated sites must conform to the requirements of this section.
(10) 
All outdoor light fixtures used to highlight art features within a public right-of-way providing they are aimed and shielded to not shine visible glare into the public right-of-way or onto adjacent or nearby properties.
(11) 
City street light standards and design criteria, which are regulated by SDC 4.2.145 and by the Engineering Design Standards and Procedures Manual.
(12) 
Lighting necessary for emergency equipment and work conducted in the interests of law enforcement or for the safety, health, or welfare of the City.
(13) 
Sign lighting and signs in general, which are regulated in the Springfield Municipal Code, 1997, Chapter 8.
(D) 
Violations and Penalties. For any person, firm, or corporation to erect, construct, enlarge, alter, repair, move, improve or convert any lighting fixture, or cause the same to be done, contrary to or in violation of any provision of this section constitutes a violation of this code. Each day a lighting fixture is in violation of this section constitutes a separate violation.
(E) 
Definitions. The following definitions apply to terms in this section:
"End of business hours or end of business"
means: (a) the end of normal or posted business hours when a business or institution is no longer open to serve customers or clients; and (b) the end of a shift or normal work hours when the majority of employees are gone from the business or institution.
"Full cut-off"
means a light fixture designed and constructed so that light is directed down and no light is projected above the horizontal plane. [See illustrations below]
"Glare"
means stray, unshielded light striking the eye that may result in: (a) nuisance or annoyance such as light shining into a window; (b) discomfort causing squinting of the eyes; (c) disabling vision by reducing the ability of the eyes to see into shadows; or (d) reduction of visual performance.
"High intensity discharge lamp lighting"
means high-pressure sodium, mercury vapor, metal halide, low-pressure sodium, induction, sulfur, xenon, and other similar lamps.
"Installed"
means initial installation of outdoor lighting fixtures, poles, electrical wiring, and related mounting equipment following the effective date of the ordinance codified in this section. Projects with approved construction plans prior to effective date of the ordinance codified in this section are excluded from compliance with the ordinance in the initial installation only.
"Low wattage lights"
mean 12-volt direct current lights or individual lamps less than 0.25 watts each strung together within a translucent or transparent plastic cover.
"Replacement"
means the installation of a new lighting fixture in place of an existing fixture, and/or the installation of a new lighting housing or head to an existing pole, bracket or wall, tree, or other structure. “Replacement” does not mean the changing of light bulbs or lamps in a fixture for the same or lower wattage bulbs.
Safety/Security.
“Safety” means: (a) sufficient lighting at building entrances, exits, walkways and parking areas to allow customers and employees to see any physical barriers and to be seen at all times as they access to vehicles and sidewalks; and (b) the use of full cut-off light fixtures above doors, at fire service stanchions, loading areas, and similar building access points.
"Shielding"
means an externally applied device such as a shroud or hood of metal, wood, opaque plastic or opaque painted glass so that light emitted by the fixture is directed downward below the horizontal plane onto the site and does not shine direct illumination or glare onto adjacent or nearby property.
"Unshielded"
means light fixtures lacking any means to restrict the emitted light to below the horizontal plane or to shine or glare onto adjacent or nearby property.
"Up lighting"
means a shielded light fixture usually installed on the ground or permanently mounted to an architectural element, tree, or other structure that has the light from the fixture directed in a contained distribution pattern above the horizontal plane to illuminate an adjacent or nearby building element, shrub, tree or other landscaping.
(6443)
(A) 
Standards for Installation and Operation of Outdoor Lighting. Except as exempt by subsection (C) of SDC 4.5.105 above, new outdoor lighting fixtures installed after July 1, 2022, are subject to the standards below. No provision of this section is intended to preempt Springfield Municipal Code 8.200 et seq., Signs, or applicable State codes.
(1) 
All outdoor lighting fixtures subject to this section must be designed as a full cut-off fixture or have a shielding method to direct light emissions down onto the site and not shine direct illumination or glare onto adjacent properties.
(2) 
All lighting for roadways, roadway signs, intersections, and pedestrian ways must be designed or have an opaque shielding method to direct light emissions downward and below the horizontal plane of the fixture in the permanently installed position.
(3) 
The use of laser source light or any similar high intensity light for outdoor advertising or entertainment is prohibited.
(4) 
The operation of searchlights for advertising or promotional purposes is prohibited.
(5) 
Outdoor lights at designated historic sites or within historic neighborhoods that are consistent with the architectural style or era of the building or property must be consistent with the provisions of this section.
(6) 
Businesses and institutions with outdoor lighting, such as parking lot lights, building lights, landscaping lights, and other similar exterior lighting features, are encouraged to extinguish such lights at the end of the working day, except for lights necessary for personal and building safety.
(7) 
All outdoor lighting used for public or private sports stadiums, sports areas, recreation facilities, outdoor performance areas, and other similar outdoor facilities must be extinguished within an hour after conclusion of the final event of the day, except as exempted herein.
(8) 
Externally affixed neon lighting is prohibited except in the following manner: As a trim element that surrounds windows, doors, or building edges; when located on building facades that face street frontages or internal driveways within commercial shopping complexes; such lighting must not be located more than 15 feet from finished grade and must not be used to define a building roofline; and such lighting must not include flashing, intermittent or rotating lights. Notwithstanding the provisions of this section, all neon lighting associated with signs must be in accordance with the provisions of Springfield Municipal Code 8.200 et seq., Signs.
(9) 
The operation of outdoor lighting used for public or private sports stadiums, sports areas, recreation facilities, outdoor performance areas, and other similar outdoor facilities must not occur later than the conclusion of the final event of the day when maintenance such as field grooming, irrigation, cleaning, and other similar maintenance activities are required, to have the facility ready for operation the following morning. Lights during after-events maintenance must be kept at the minimum level practicable.
(B) 
On-site lighting must be the minimum illumination necessary in compliance with the Illuminating Engineering Society of North America recommended practices for a given application, including parking areas and vehicle sales areas. All exterior light fixtures must be shielded or recessed so that direct glare and reflection are contained within the boundaries of the property, and directed downward and away from abutting properties; public rights-of-way; and riparian zones, wetlands, and other protected areas identified in this code on the same property.
(C) 
Height.
(1) 
The height of a free standing exterior light fixture must not exceed 25 feet or the height of the principal permitted structure, whichever is less. In this case, height is measured as the vertical distance between the paved surface or finished grade and the bottom of the light fixture.
(2) 
The Director may allow an increase to the standard in subsection (C)(1), above, through a Type 2 or Type 3 approval process when a determination is made that personal security is an issue, special security needs exist, or where vandalism or crime are possible. The Director may consider specific site characteristics, level of vehicle and pedestrian conflict, special security needs, and history or likelihood of crimes in making the determination. Any approved increase must be the minimum necessary to achieve the desired result.
(3) 
The height of a free standing exterior light fixture within 50 feet of any residential district, riparian zone, or wetland must not exceed 12 feet.
(4) 
The height restriction in subsection (C)(1), above does not apply to lighting used to illuminate outdoor performance areas, sport and recreation facilities, and playfields, unless these light fixtures are located within 50 feet of a residential district, in which case (C)(3) above applies.
(6443)