Chapter 21.82 — LIGHTING AND ILLUMINATION

A.

Purpose. This chapter is intended to minimize artificial light that may have a detrimental effect on the environment and enjoyment of the night sky. These provisions are also intended to reduce the unnecessary illumination of adjacent properties and the use of energy and meet the minimum requirements of the California Code of Regulations for Outdoor Lighting and Signs (Title 24, Chapter 6). Outdoor lighting shall be designed, installed and maintained to be an integral part of the built environment, reflecting a balance for lighting needs with the contextual ambient light level and surrounding nighttime characteristics of the community.

B.

Applicability. The standards of this chapter apply to the following development projects:

New Construction. All new or replacement of exterior light fixtures or systems.

Nonconforming Lighting. Replacement of nonconforming light fixtures and light systems shall be required in the following circumstances:

a.

Commercial Additions and Remodels. All building permits with a valuation more than the amount described in Paragraph 11.12.030(A)1. for requirement of frontage improvements shall bring existing exterior lighting into conformance with the provisions of this chapter. In the event that the improvements are for a single tenant in a multi- tenant center, the zoning administrator shall determine a proportionate share of exterior lights to be replaced with the building permit.

b.

Residential Additions and Remodels. Additions totaling fifty percent or more of the existing gross floor area of a structure or alterations affecting fifty percent or more of existing gross floor area shall bring existing exterior lighting into conformance with the provisions of this chapter.

Exemptions. The following light sources are exempt from the standards of this chapter:

Temporary construction lighting necessary for an allowed use are exempt except that permanent installations at dedicated sites shall conform to the requirements of this chapter;

Sports fields;

Temporary holiday lighting; and

Similar lighting types as determined by the zoning administrator.

Other laws or ordinances may require minimum illumination levels for specific applications and may conflict with these regulations. In such cases, those laws or ordinances shall govern.

C.

Application Materials. All development applications shall include sufficient information to enable the zoning administrator to determine whether the proposed and existing lighting complies with the provisions of this chapter. For projects requiring a development plan (Subsection 21.16.010(B)), the application shall include the following:

A site plan indicating the proposed location of all outdoor lighting fixtures;

A description of each illuminating device, fixture, lamp, support, and shield. This description may include, but is not limited to, manufacturer's catalog cuts and drawings (including sections where required), lamp types, lumen outputs, and kelvin rating/scale;

Photometric plans depicting the location of all light poles and building-mounted lighting fixtures and a maximum ten- foot by ten-foot grid of both the initial and maintained lighting levels on the site, and including impact on adjacent properties;

The project lighting plan shall be coordinated with any associated landscaping plan to prevent site planning conflicts; and

Any other information the zoning administrator may determine is necessary to ensure compliance with the provisions of this chapter.

(Ord. No. 1144 N.S., § 3(Exh. A), 10-1-2024)

A.

Maximum Height.

Within one hundred feet of a residential zoning district: Sixteen feet.

Other Locations: Twenty-five feet.

B.

Design of Fixtures. Outdoor lighting fixtures, either wall mounted or light standards, shall be appropriate to the style and scale of the architecture of the building. Fixtures on buildings shall be attached only to walls or eaves, and the top of the fixture shall not exceed the height of the parapet, roof, or eave of the roof.

C.

Commercial/Industrial Lighting. Fixtures shall be fixed in position.

D.

Timing Controls. All outdoor lighting in nonresidential development shall be on a time clock or photo-sensor system and turned off during daylight hours and during hours when the building or, in the case of shopping centers, all buildings, are not in use. Security lighting shall utilize motion sensors to reduce light intensity or turn lights off when no motion is detected.

E.

Patio Lights. Commercial string lights and other patio lighting shall be turned off no more than thirty minutes after close of business.

F.

Light Trespass. All lights shall be directed, oriented, and shielded to prevent light trespass or glare onto adjacent properties. The light level at property lines shall not exceed 0.3 foot-candle.

G.

Up Lighting. Up-lighting (lighting directed higher than ninety degrees from the ground) is prohibited.

H.

Lighting Shielded.

All outdoor lighting shall be Dark-Sky compliant or equivalent. Light sources shall be designed and adjusted to direct light away from any road or street and away from any property or buildings outside the ownership of the applicant.

Outdoor lighting shall be shielded so that the light source is not visible from off-site. Shielding shall be at least two inches in dimension measured from the lens or light source to direct light toward buildings or the ground and reduce glare.

Figure 21.82.020-1: Light Shielding Dimensions

I.

Parking Lot Lighting.

Lighting Level. Parking lot lighting shall not exceed the levels needed to provide low level safety lighting for parking lot areas, as demonstrated by photometric plans.

Motion Sensors. Lighting shall be on motion sensors to minimize lighting when not in use.

J.

Lighting Color (Chromaticity). All outdoor lighting shall utilize light sources with correlated color temperature not to exceed three thousand Kelvin (K).

K.

Flashing. Outdoor lighting shall not blink, flash, or rotate.

(Ord. No. 1144 N.S., § 3(Exh. A), 10-1-2024)

A.

General. Modifications to lighting standards may be allowed through a development plan modification (Section 21.16.020). An application for a development plan modification (Section 21.16.020) shall set forth all actions taken to comply with this chapter, the reasons why compliance cannot be achieved, and a proposed method for achieving alternative compliance.

B.

Findings and Decision.

Decision and Conditions. The planning commission may grant or deny the application for a development plan modification to lighting standards. If approved, the modification may be for a limited period and may be subject to any other terms, conditions, and requirements as the planning commission may deem reasonable to achieve maximum compliance with the provisions of this chapter. Such terms, conditions and requirements may include, but shall not be limited to, limitations on lighting levels and operating hours.

Findings. In approving such a request, the review authority shall consider whether the lighting modification meets a unique security need and/or serves a community-wide purpose, and shall make the findings required for a development plan modification (Subsection 21.16.020(D)).

(Ord. No. 1144 N.S., § 3(Exh. A), 10-1-2024)