Los Alamitos Municipal Code Ch. 8.48 Lighting Performance Standards

A. The intent of these standards is to focus on the physical effects of outdoor lighting, as well as the effect lighting may have on surrounding neighborhoods. Exterior lighting shall be evaluated in the development review process to ensure that the functional and security needs of the project are met in a way that will not adversely affect the adjacent properties or surrounding neighborhoods. The degree to which exterior night lighting affects a property owner or neighborhood will be examined based upon the light source, level of illumination, hours of illumination, and the need for illumination in relation to the effects of lighting on adjacent property owners and the neighborhood.

B. All outdoor artificial illuminating devices shall be installed in conformance with the provisions of this chapter, and applicable provisions of the zoning ordinance and this code. Where there is a conflict between the provisions of this chapter and applicable provisions of the zoning ordinance or this code, the most restrictive shall govern.

(Ord. 692 § 1, 2006)

The provisions of this chapter are not intended to prevent the use of any material or method of installation not specifically prescribed by this chapter, provided any such alternate has been approved in advance by the city as described below. The community development director or his or her designee, or, for street lighting within the right-of-way, the public works director or his or her designee, may approve any such alternate material or method provided that the proposed design, material or method (a) provides approximate equivalence to the specific requirements of this chapter; or (b) is otherwise satisfactory and complies with the intent of this chapter.

(Ord. 692 § 1, 2006)

"Color rendering index" ("CRI")

means the measured effect of light on objects. To determine the CRI of a lamp, the color appearances of a set of standard color chips are measured with special equipment under a reference light source with the same correlated color temperature as the lamp being evaluated. If the lamp renders the color of the chips identical to the reference light source, the CRI is 100. If the color rendering differs from the reference light source, the CRI is less than 100 a low CRI indicates that some color may appear unnatural when illuminated by the lamp.

"Community development director"

means the director of community development or his or her designee.

"Fixture"

means the same as "luminaire" as provided in this section.

"Outdoor light fixtures"

means outdoor artificial illuminating devices, outdoor fixtures, lamps and other devices, permanent or portable, used for illumination or advertisement. Such devices shall include, but are not necessarily limited to, searchlights, spotlights, or floodlights for:

Buildings and/or structures, including canopies and overhangs;

Recreational areas;

Parking lot lighting;

Landscape lighting;

Billboards and signs;

Street lighting; or

Display and/or service areas.

"Foot-candle"

means a unit of measure for a light source equivalent to the light from one candle at a distance of one foot. A candlepower is equal to one lumen per square foot.

"Full cut-off type fixture"

means a luminaire or light fixture that, by design of the fixture housing, does not allow any light dispersion or direct glare to shine above a 90 degree horizontal plane from the base of the fixture.

"Glare"

means the direct light emitting from a luminaire that causes reduced vision or momentary blindness.

"High pressure sodium" ("HPS")

means a high intensity discharge lamp where radiation is produced from sodium vapor at relatively high partial pressures. HPS is considered a point source.

"Horizontal luminance"

means the measurement of brightness from a light source, usually measured in foot-candles or lumens, which is taken through a light meter's sensor at a horizontal position.

"Installed"

means the initial installation of outdoor light fixtures defined herein.

"Lamp" or "bulb"

means the light-producing source installed in the socket portion of the luminaire.

"Light trespass"

means light emitted by a luminaire that shines beyond the boundaries of the property on which the luminaire is located.

"Low-pressure sodium" ("LPS")

means a discharge lamp where the light is produced by radiation from sodium vapor at a relatively low partial pressure. LPS is a tube source and is a monochromatic light.

"Luminaire"

means the lamp, base, fixture, and shading and/or shielding device, if any.

"Metal-halide lamp"

means a high intensity discharge lamp where the light is produced by radiation from metal-halide vapors.

"Mounting height"

means the overall height of the fixture or lamp above the ground.

"Photometry"

means the quantitative measurement of light level and distribution.

"Public works director"

means the director of public works or his or her designee.

"Security purpose lighting"

means reduced lighting levels which do not exceed .5 foot-candles.

Shielded, fully.

"Fully shielded" means fixtures that are shielded in such a manner that light rays emitted by the fixture, either directly from the lamp or indirectly from the fixture, are projected below a horizontal plane running through the lowest point on the fixture where light is emitted.

"Sky glow"

means the result of scattered light in the atmosphere above urban areas and the haze or glow of light that currently surrounds populated areas and reduces the ability to review the night-time sky.

"Uplighting"

means any source that distributes illumination above a 90 degree horizontal plane.

"Uniformity (U) ratio"

means the average level of illumination in relation to the lowest level of illumination for a given area. Example U. ratio = 4:1 for the given area, the lowest level of illumination, one, should be no more than four times the average level of illumination.

(Ord. 692 § 1, 2006)

A. Any person applying for a building, electrical or sign permit to install outdoor lighting fixtures shall as a part of the application submit evidence that the proposed work will comply with this chapter.

B. The application shall contain, but shall not necessarily be limited to, the following:

1. Plans indicating the location on the premises, and the type of illuminating devices, fixtures, lamps, supports, other devices; and

2. Description of the illuminating devices, fixtures, lamps, supports and other devices. This description may include but is not limited to manufacturers catalog cuts, and drawings including sections where required.

C. The above required plans and descriptions shall be sufficiently complete to enable the community development director to readily determine whether compliance with the requirements of this article will be secured. If such plans and descriptions cannot enable this ready determination, by reason of the nature or configuration, of the devices, fixtures or lamps proposed, the applicant shall submit evidence of compliance by certified test reports as performed by a recognized testing lab.

(Ord. 692 § 1, 2006)

Prior to issuance of a building, electrical or sign permit, the community development director shall determine that the submitted plans and details for the permit are in conformance with this chapter. In order to be in conformance and be deemed complete, the plans must contain, at a minimum, the following:

A. The approval stamp of the community development director;

B. The signature of the community development director; and

C. The date of execution by the community development director.

(Ord. 692 § 1, 2006)

Should the applicant desire to substitute outdoor light fixtures or lamps to be installed on private property after a permit has been issued, the applicant shall submit all changes to the community development director for approval, with adequate information to assure compliance with this chapter.

(Ord. 692 § 1, 2006)

Except for street lighting within the right-of-way and for temporary exemptions as provided herein, the appeal procedures contained in Los Alamitos Municipal Code Chapter 17.68 shall apply.

(Ord. 692 § 1, 2006)

Pursuant to this chapter, lighting in the city shall at all times:

A. Be designed, located, installed, and directed in such a manner to prevent objectionable light at and across the property lines, and to prevent glare at any location on or off the property;

B. Be of a white light, such as metal halide, incandescent or a lamp with a color rendering index above 70;

C. Not exceed the maintained horizontal illuminance recommendations set by the Illuminating Engineering Society of North America (IES) and an average illumination level of 1.5 foot-candles for the illuminated area;

D. Not exceed 0.1 foot-candle as a direct result of the on-site lighting measured 20 feet beyond the property line of the development site;

E. Be full cut-off style fixtures for all parking area lighting;

F. Be illuminated with flush mounted, flat lens light fixtures for all under-canopy fueling areas;

G. Be shielded to prevent glare and/or light trespass from all building, site and aesthetic lighting;

H. Not include uplighting of any kind unless included as part of a monument sign of less than six feet in overall height and which otherwise complies with all applicable provisions of this code;

I. Be full cut-off or a shielded type fixture (wallpack style fixtures are not acceptable) for all building lighting for security or aesthetics. Floodlighting is discouraged, however, if used, it shall be shielded to prevent the following:

1. Disabling glare for pedestrians or drivers;

2. Light trespass beyond the property line; and

3. Light above a 90 degree horizontal plane.

J. Be turned off after business hours, leaving only the necessary lighting for site and building security for all non-essential lighting. For purposes of this subsection, nonessential lighting shall include display, aesthetic and sign lighting, and may include parking lot lighting. Outdoor display lots for vehicle sales and leasing shall also comply with the requirements of this subsection by reducing the light levels within one hour after closing to illumination levels sufficient for security purposes only;

K. Not be installed, illuminated or maintained with a permanent beacon or searchlight;

L. Have a maximum mounting height of (1) 24 feet when the fixture is located within 75 feet of the site's boundary line; or (2) 40 feet when the fixture is located beyond 75 feet from the site's boundary line; and

M. Not be constructed with wooden poles.

(Ord. 692 § 1, 2006)

No outdoor recreational facility, public or private, shall be illuminated after eleven p.m. except to conclude any recreational or sporting event or other activity conducted at a ball park, outdoor amphitheater, arena, or similar facility in progress prior to eleven p.m., and all lighting shall be shut off within one hour of completion of the game or event.

At no time shall floodlights be aimed above 62 degrees.

At no time shall lights have poles and/or a mounting height that exceed 70 feet.

The unshielded outdoor illumination of any building or landscaping is prohibited except with incandescent fixtures with lamps of 100 watts or less. Lighting fixtures used to illuminate an outdoor advertisement sign shall be mounted on the top of the sign structure and shall comply with the shielding requirements contained herein. All illuminated outdoor advertising signs shall be equipped with an automatic time controller that prevents the operation of the lighting fixtures between the hours of eleven p.m. and sunrise.

The installation of mercury vapor fixtures is prohibited.

(Ord. 692 § 1, 2006)

The following are exempt from this chapter:

A. Nonconforming Fixtures. Outdoor light fixtures installed prior to the effective date of the ordinance codified in this chapter are exempt from the provisions of this chapter, provided, however, that no change in use, replacement, structural alteration, or restoration of outdoor light fixtures shall be made unless it thereafter conforms to the provisions of this chapter.

B. Fossil Fuel Light. Fossil fuel light produced directly or indirectly by the combustion of natural gas or other utility-type fossil fuels is exempt from the provisions of this chapter.

C. Construction and Emergency Lighting. Lighting necessary for construction or emergencies is exempt from the provisions of this chapter provided such lighting is temporary and is discontinued immediately upon completion of the construction work or abatement of the emergency necessitating the lighting.

D. Searchlights. Searchlights shall be subject to the provisions of this code.

E. Seasonal Decorations. Seasonal decorations with individual lights shall be displayed no longer than 60 days per calendar year.

F. Residential Incandescent Lighting. Residential incandescent lighting of 150 watts or fewer for each light fixture, and/or fluorescent lights of 20 watts or fewer per fixture.

G. Temporary Lighting. Temporary lighting for fire, police, emergency, or repair workers. Also, temporary lighting for construction activity, periodic events (such as fairs, carnivals, and similar temporary uses) is exempt only if approved in advance by the public works director or his or her designee.

H. Special Conditions. The community development director or, for street lighting within the right-of-way, the public works director, may grant a special or temporary exemption to the requirements of this chapter pursuant to this section and Section 8.48.120 only upon a written finding by the community development director and/or public works director, as the case may as provided for herein, that there are conditions warranting the exemption and that there are no conforming fixtures that would suffice.

(Ord. 692 § 1, 2006)

The following information must be submitted as part of a lighting plan pursuant to this chapter:

A. Plans must be submitted to the community development director and/or public works director as required herein indicating the location, type, and height of the luminaries, including both building and ground mounted;

B. A description of the luminaries, including lamps, poles or other supports, and shielding devices which may be provided as catalogue cut sheets from the manufacturer;

C. Photometric data, such as that furnished by the manufacturer, showing the angle of the light emissions; and

D. Additional information as may be required by the public works director in order to determinate compliance with this chapter.

(Ord. 692 § 1, 2006)

A. Any person may submit a written request on a form prepared by the community development department or, if in the right-of-way, the public works department, for a temporary exemption to the requirements of this chapter.

B. The request for temporary exemption shall contain at a minimum the following information:

1. The specific exemptions requested;

2. The type and use of exterior light involved;

3. The duration of time for requested exemption;

4. The type of lamp and calculated lumens;

5. The total wattage of lamp or lamps;

6. The proposed location of exterior light;

7. The previous temporary exemptions, if any; and

8. The physical size of exterior light and type of shielding provided.

C. In addition to the above data, the community development director or, if in the right-of-way, the public works director, may request any additional information which would enable him or her to make a reasonable evaluation of the request for temporary exemption.

D. The fee for a temporary exemption shall be a non-refundable amount as established by resolution of the city council.

(Ord. 692 § 1, 2006; Ord. 2017-12 § 2, 2017)

Any person, firm, corporation, agency, or other entity violating any of the provisions of this chapter shall be deemed guilty of a misdemeanor, which shall be punishable by a maximum penalty of a five hundred dollar ($500.00) fine and/or six months in jail, as specified in Section 1.20.010 of this code, and each such person shall be deemed guilty of a separate offense for each and every day or portion thereof during which a violation of any of the provisions of this chapter is committed, continued, or permitted to continue.

(Ord. 692 § 1, 2006)