Chapter 18.80 — LIGHTING

The purpose of this chapter is to regulate lighting to balance the safety and security needs for lighting with the city's desire to ensure that light trespass and glare have negligible impact on surrounding properties (especially residential) and roadways. (Ord. 738 § 1 (Exh. A) (part), 2013)

The requirements of this chapter apply to all new development. Whenever a person is required to obtain a building permit, electrical permit, and/or approval of a planning entitlement, the applicant shall submit sufficient information for the approving authority to determine whether the proposed lighting will comply with the requirements of this chapter.

(Ord. 738 § 1 (Exh. A) (part), 2013)

The following items shall be exempt from the requirements of this chapter:

• A. Temporary lights used for holiday decorations.

• B. Emergency lighting erected for official purposes by local, state, or federal agencies.

• C. Lighting for temporary uses and special events permitted consistent with this code. (Ord. 738 § 1 (Exh. A) (part), 2013)

The following types of lighting are prohibited:

• A. Neon tubing or band lighting (including LCD, LED, and other technologies) along buildings and/or structures as articulation, except as approved through minor design review (Section 18.16.120 ).

• B. Search lights, laser source lights, or any similar high-intensity light, except for emergency use by police or fire personnel or at their discretion, or for approved temporary lighting for a special event approved through the administrative review (AR) process.

• C. Lighting fixtures operated in such a manner as to constitute a hazard or danger to persons or to safe vehicular travel.

• D. Illumination of entire buildings.

• E. Roof-mounted lighting except for security purposes.

• F. Moving, flashing, or animated lighting.

• (Ord. 738 § 1 (Exh. A) (part), 2013)

The requirements listed below shall apply to all outdoor lighting.

• A. Maintenance. Fixtures and lighting shall be maintained in good working order and in a manner that serves the original design intent.

  1. Burnt-out and broken light bulbs shall be replaced.

  2. Lighting fixtures shall remain free of graffiti and rust.

  3. Painted light fixtures shall be maintained to minimize chipping or peeling.

• B. Nuisance Prevention and Shielding. All outdoor lighting shall be designed, located, installed, directed downward or toward structures, fully shielded, and maintained in order to prevent glare, light trespass, and light pollution. All outdoor lighting shall be recessed and/or constructed with full downward shielding in order to reduce light and glare impacts on trespass to adjoining properties and public rights-of-way. Each fixture shall be directed downward and away from adjoining properties and public rights-of-way, so that no light fixture directly illuminates an area outside of the project site intended to be illuminated.

• C. Height. The maximum height of light poles on private property shall be:

  1. Thirty-two feet for all nonresidential districts;

  2. Twenty-four feet for all residential districts and within one hundred feet of a residential zoning district;

  3. Exceptions to the height limits shall be considered by the planning commission for athletic fields and other unique circumstances where additional height is required.

• D. Level of Illumination. Outdoor lighting shall be designed to illuminate at the minimum level necessary for safety and security and to avoid the harsh contrasts in lighting levels between the project site and adjacent properties. Illumination requirements are provided in Table 18.78.060-1 (Illumination Requirements).

• E. Hours. Automatically control exterior lighting dusk to dawn to turn off or lower light levels during inactive periods.

• F. Signs. Lighting of signs shall be in compliance with Chapter 18.82 (Signs) of this division.

• G. Energy-Efficient Fixtures Required. Outdoor lighting shall utilize energy-efficient fixtures and lamps such as high-pressure sodium, metal halide, low-pressure sodium, hard-wired compact fluorescent, or other lighting technology that is of equal or greater efficiency. All new outdoor lighting fixtures shall be energy efficient with a rated average bulb life of not less than ten thousand hours.

• H. Accent Lighting. Architectural features may be illuminated by uplighting; provided, that the lamps are low intensity to produce a subtle lighting effect and no glare or light trespass is produced. Wherever feasible, solar-powered fixtures shall be used.

• I. Security Lighting. All multiple-family residential complexes shall provide security lighting as approved by the planning commission and police department.

• (Ord. 738 § 1 (Exh. A) (part), 2013)