Richmond Municipal Code Art. 15.04.604 Lighting and Illumination

The purpose of this Article is to control outdoor lighting in order to maintain adequate visibility and safety, conserve energy, and protect against direct glare and excessive lighting.

A. The standards of this Article apply to all new development and to exterior alterations and additions that involve replacement light fixtures or systems. The total outdoor light output shall not exceed that allowed on the site for individual lighting zones, except as provided in the "Exemptions" subsection below.

1. Lighting Zones. The following lighting zones are established to tailor illumination standards to land use:

a. Lighting Zone LZ3. Areas of high ambient lighting levels. This Zone includes the CM-3, CM-4, and CM-5, CG, CR, IB, IL, IG, and IW zoning districts.

b. Lighting Zone LZ2. Areas of medium ambient lighting levels. This Zone includes the RL2, RM, CM-1, CM-2, LW, CC, ILL and PCI zoning districts.

c. Lighting Zone LZ1. Areas of low ambient lighting levels. This Zone includes the RH, RL1, PR, OS, and AG zoning districts.

2. Classes of Lighting.

a. Class 1 Lighting. All outdoor lighting used for, but not limited to, outdoor sales or eating areas, assembly or repair areas, advertising and other signs, recreational facilities and other similar applications where color rendition is important to preserve the effectiveness of the activity. Designation of lighting as Class 1 requires a finding by the Zoning Administrator of the essential nature of color rendition for the application. Recognized Class 1 uses are: outdoor eating and retail food or beverage service areas; outdoor maintenance areas; display lots; assembly areas such as concert or theater amphitheaters.

b. Class 2 Lighting. All outdoor lighting used for, but not limited to, illumination for walkways, roadways, equipment yards, parking lots and outdoor security where general illumination for safety or security of the grounds is the primary concern.

c. Class 3 Lighting. Any outdoor lighting used for decorative effects including, but not limited to, architectural illumination, flag and monument lighting, and illumination of trees, bushes, etc.

A. General Exemptions. The following lighting is exempt from the provisions of this Article.

1. Emergency Lighting. Temporary emergency lighting needed by police, fire, and other emergency services.

2. Holiday Lights. Holiday lighting from October 30th to February 1 st , provided that no individual lamp exceeds 10 watts and 70 lumens. Flashing holiday lights are prohibited on commercial properties.

3. Nonconformance. All other outdoor light fixtures lawfully installed prior to and operable on the effective date of this Article are exempt from all requirements of this Article. There shall be no change in use or lamp type, or any replacement (except for same-type and same-output lamp replacement) or structural alteration made, without conforming to all applicable requirements of this Article. Further, if the property is abandoned, or if there is a change in use of the property, the provisions of this Article will apply when the abandonment ceases or the new use commences.

B. Other Exemptions.

1. Swimming Pool and Fountain Lighting. Underwater lighting used for the illumination of swimming pools and fountains is exempt from the lamp type and shielding standards, though it must conform to all other provisions of this Code.

2. Solar-powered Lighting. Solar-powered lights of 5 watts or less per fixture used in residential landscaping applications and to illuminate walkways are exempt from applicable lamp type and shielding standards and are excluded from the total lumen calculations for the site.

3. Temporary Exemptions. Any individual may submit a written request to the Zoning Administrator for a temporary exemption from the requirements of this Article. If approved, such exemption will be valid for up to 30 days, and is renewable at the discretion of the Zoning Administrator. The request for a temporary exemption must describe:

a. Specific exemptions requested;

b. Type and use of exterior light involved;

c. Duration of time for requested exemption;

d. Type of lamp and calculated lumens;

e. Total wattage of lamp or lamps;

f. Proposed location of exterior light;

g. Previous temporary exemptions, if any; and

h. Physical size of exterior light and type of shielding provided.

The following are prohibited:

A. Searchlights. The operation of searchlights for advertising purposes.

B. Laser Source Light. The use of laser source light or any similar high intensity light for outdoor advertising or entertainment, when projected above the horizontal, is prohibited.

C. Advertising Sign or Landscape Illumination. The unshielded outdoor illumination of any outdoor advertising sign or landscaping. However, low voltage accent landscape lighting is allowed.

D. Mercury Vapor. The installation of new mercury vapor fixtures. Existing mercury vapor fixtures must be removed and replaced with compliant lighting fixtures wherever substantial alterations and additions are undertaken, exclusive of ordinary maintenance and repair.

E. Other Light Types. Blinking, flashing, revolving, flickering, changing intensity of illumination, and changing color lights. This prohibition does not apply to holiday lights or digital displays that are regulated by Article 15.04.609 (Signs).

A. Design of Fixtures. Fixtures must be appropriate to the style and scale of the architecture and be shielded as required by paragraph (D) below. The top of the fixture must not exceed the height of the parapet or roof or eave of roof.

B. Efficient Use. All outdoor lighting in non-residential development must be turned off during daylight hours and during any hours when the building is not in use and the lighting is not required for security. Time clocks or photo-sensor systems may be required as a condition of approval of a discretionary permit.

C. Entrances in Multi-Unit Dwelling Development. All entrances to multi-unit residential buildings containing more than 4 units shall be lighted with low intensity fixtures to ensure the safety of persons and the security of the building.

D. Shielding. All nonexempt outdoor lighting fixtures shall have shielding as shown in Table 15.04.604.050-D.

E. Nuisance Prevention. All outdoor lighting shall be designed, located, installed, directed downward or toward structures, be shielded or fully shielded, and well-maintained in order to prevent glare, light trespass (unwanted light on adjacent lots and public rights-of-way), and light pollution to the maximum extent feasible.

Use Codes:

A = all types of fixtures allowed; shielding not required but highly recommended, except that any spot or flood-light must be aimed no higher than 45 degrees above straight down

F = only fully shielded fixtures allowed

X = not allowed

TABLE 15.04.604.050-D: LAMP TYPE AND SHIELDING STANDARDS

F. Total Outdoor Light Output Standards. Total non-exempt outdoor light output shall not exceed the limits in Table 15.04.604.050-E. Lighting used for external illumination of signs is counted, while lighting used for internal illumination of signs is not counted.

TABLE 15.04.604.050-E: MAXIMUM TOTAL OUTDOOR LIGHT OUTPUT STANDARDS

1. Outdoor light fixtures installed on poles (such as parking lot luminaires) and light fixtures installed on the sides of buildings or other structures, when not shielded from above by the structure itself are to be included in the total outdoor light output by simply adding the initial lumen outputs of the lamps.

2. Outdoor light fixtures installed under canopies, buildings (including parking garage decks), overhangs or roof eaves where all parts of the lamp or luminaire are located at least five feet but less than 10 feet from the nearest edge of the canopy or overhang are to be included in the total outdoor light output as though they produced only one-quarter (0.25) of the lamp's rated initial lumen output.

3. Outdoor light fixtures installed under canopies, buildings (including parking garage decks), overhangs, or roof eaves where all parts of the lamp or luminaire are located at least 10 feet but less than 30 feet from the nearest edge of the canopy or overhang are to be included in the total outdoor light output as though they produced only one-tenth (0.10) of the lamp's rated initial lumen output.

4. Outdoor light fixtures installed under canopies, buildings (including parking garage decks), overhangs, or roof eaves where all parts of the lamp or luminaire are located 30 or more feet from the nearest edge of the canopy or overhang are not to be included in the total outdoor light output.

G. Multi-Class Lighting Standard. Multi-class lighting must conform to the shielding and timing restrictions, if any, that apply to the most restrictive class.

H. Maximum Height. The maximum height of freestanding light fixtures in parking lots serving multi-family or non-residential uses shall be 20 feet or 15 feet if within 20 feet of an RL1 or RL2 zoning district, but within industrial zoning districts, the maximum height of freestanding light fixtures, including security light, is 25 feet.

I. 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 be periodically cleaned and refinished or repainted so as to be free of graffiti and rust, with surfaces free of chipping and peeling.

(Ord. No. 30-18 N.S., § I(Exh. A), 12-18-2018)

A. Outdoor Recreational Facilities. Light fixtures in outdoor recreational facilities such as ball fields, and other outdoor nighttime facilities may exceed the height limits of the zoning district.

1. All lighting for outdoor recreations facilities shall require an administrative use permit.

2. Lighting for outdoor athletic fields, courts or tracks shall be considered Class 1 (Color Rendition), and shall be exempt from the lumens per acre limits of subsection 15.04.604.050(F).

3. Shielding. Fully shielded lighting is required for all fields, unless another type of luminaire will not cause light trespass in adjacent residential neighborhoods.

4. Illuminance. All lighting installations shall be designed to achieve no greater than the minimal illuminance levels for the activity as recommended by the Illuminating Engineering Society of North America (IESNA), with adjustments allowed, as appropriate, for the level of play, the most light-demanding sport in a multi-sport venue, and the maximum number of attendees.

5. Off-Site Spill. The installation shall also limit off-site spill (off the site containing the sports facility) to the maximum extent possible consistent with the illumination constraints of the design.

6. Certification. Every such lighting system design and installation shall be certified by a registered engineer as conforming to all applicable restrictions of this Article.

B. Exterior Display/Sales Areas. Lighting levels on exterior display/sales areas must be adequate to facilitate the activities taking place in such locations and cannot be used to attract attention to the business.

1. Display Lots. Lighting for display lots shall be considered Class 1 (Color Rendition), and shall be exempt from the lumens per acre limits of paragraph 15.04.604.050F.4.

2. Shielding. All display lot lighting shall utilize fully shielded luminaires that are installed in a fashion that maintains the fully shielded characteristics.

3. Illuminance. The display lot shall be designed to achieve no greater than the minimal illuminance levels for the activity as recommended by the Illuminating Engineering Society of North America (IESNA).

4. Off-Site Spill. The display lot shall limit off-site spill (off the parcel containing the display lot) to a maximum of 5 lux (0.5 fc) at any location on any non-residential property, and 0.5 lux (0.05 fc) at any location on any residential property, as measurable from any orientation of the measuring device.

5. Curfew. Display lot lighting exceeding the lumens per acre cap shall be turned off or within thirty minutes after closing of the business. Lighting in the display lot after this time shall be considered Class 2 lighting, and shall conform to all restrictions of this Article applicable for this Class, including the lumens per acre caps.

C. Gasoline Station/Convenience Store Aprons and Canopies. Lighting levels on gasoline station/convenience store aprons and under canopies must be adequate to facilitate the activities taking place in such locations.

1. Service Stations. Lighting for service station canopies shall be considered Class 2 lighting (General Illumination).

2. Shielding. Light fixtures mounted on canopies must be recessed so that the lens cover is recessed or flush with the bottom surface of the canopy and/or shielded by the fixture or the edge of the canopy.

3. Total Under-Canopy Output. The total light output used for illuminating service station canopies, defined as the sum of all under-canopy initial bare-lamp outputs in lumens, shall not exceed 40 lumens per square foot. All lighting mounted under the canopy, including but not limited to luminaires mounted on the lower surface or recessed into the lower surface of the canopy and any lighting within signage or illuminated panels over the pumps, is to be included toward the total at full initial lumen output.