San Diego Municipal Code Div. 7 Off-Site Development Impact Regulations

(Added 12-9-1997 by O-18451 N.S.; effective 1-1-2000.)

The purpose of these regulations is to provide standards for air contaminants, noise, electrical/radioactivity disturbance, glare, and lighting. The intent of these regulations is to minimize negative impacts from development to surrounding property. (Added 12-9-1997 by O-18451 N.S.; effective 1-1-2000.)

(a) This division applies to all development that produces air contaminants, noise, electrical/radioactivity disturbance, glare, or lighting in any zone, whether or not a permit or other approval is required for the use.

(b) In addition to these regulations, the California Department of Public Health
standards and the Air Pollution Control District (APCD) regulations should be
consulted for additional off-site development impact regulations.
(Added 12-9-1997 by O-18451 N.S.; effective 1-1-2000.)

Air contaminants including smoke, charred paper, dust, soot, grime, carbon, noxious acids, toxic fumes, gases, odors, and particulate matter, or any emissions that endanger human health, cause damage to vegetation or property, or cause soiling shall not be permitted to emanate beyond the boundaries of the premises upon which the use emitting the contaminants is located. (Added 12-9-1997 by O-18451 N.S.; effective 1-1-2000.)

Loud, unnecessary, or unusual noises that violate the Noise Ordinance of the Municipal Code Chapter 5, Article 9.5, shall not be permitted to emanate beyond the boundaries of the premises upon which a permitted use is located. (Added 12-9-1997 by O-18451 N.S.; effective 1-1-2000.)

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Electrical and radio-activity disturbance from any premises shall not unduly interfere with the normal operation of equipment or instruments on adjacent properties or in the community.

(Amended 6-12-2001 by O-18948 N.S.; effective 12-12-2001.)

(a) A maximum of 50 percent of the exterior of a building may be comprised of reflective material that has a light reflectivity factor greater than 30 percent.

(b) Reflective building materials shall not be permitted where the City Manager
determines that their use would contribute to potential traffic hazards,
diminished quality of riparian habitat, or reduced enjoyment of public open
space.
(Added 12-9-1997 by O-18451 N.S.; effective 1-1-2000.)

(a) Purpose and Intent

(1) Outdoor lighting fixtures shall be installed in a manner that minimizes
negative impacts from light pollution including light trespass, glare,
and urban sky glow in order to preserve enjoyment of the night sky
and minimize conflict caused by unnecessary illumination.

(2) Regulation of outdoor lighting is also intended to promote lighting
design that provides for public safety and conserves electrical energy.

(3) It is the intent that, in addition to the regulations set forth in Section
142.0740, outdoor lighting fixtures shall be installed and operated in
compliance with the following regulations, to the extent applicable:

(A) California Energy Code, California Code of Regulations,
Title 24, Part 6;

(B) Green Building Regulations (Chapter 14, Article 10); and

(C) Electrical Regulations (Chapter 14, Article 6).

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(b) Applicability

All new outdoor lighting fixtures, including the replacement of previously
conforming outdoor lighting fixtures, shall comply with Section 142.0740.
Maintenance, repair, and replacement of parts within a previously conforming
outdoor lighting fixture shall be exempt if the new parts are of generally the
same type and size as those that comprise the existing outdoor lighting fixture.

(c) General regulations that apply to all outdoor lighting:

(1) Outdoor lighting shall comply with the applicable California Energy
Code lighting power requirement for the lighting zones identified on
Map C-948 filed in the office of the City Clerk.

(2) Shields and flat lenses shall be required to control and direct the light
below an imaginary horizontal plane passing through the lowest point
of the fixture, except for:

(A) Residential entrance lights installed in accordance with the
California Building Code and Electric Code requirements;

(B) Outdoor lighting fixtures less than 6,200 initial luminaire
lumens outside of the Coastal Overlay Zone and outdoor
lighting fixtures less than 4,050 initial luminaire lumens within
the Coastal Overlay Zone, including landscape lighting and
decorative lighting;

(C) Outdoor lighting installed to meet Federal Aviation
Administration requirements;

(D) A designated historical resource;

(E) Lighting for sports and athletic fields;

(F) Outdoor illuminated signs; and

(G) Maintenance to existing outdoor lighting when the following
applies:

(i) The work does not involve the installation of a new
light standard, a new lighting fixture or new wiring;
(ii) The work does not result in an increase in electrical
load; and

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(iii) Where applicable, the spacing of existing previously
conforming light standards is greater than six times the
mounting height of the existing outdoor lighting.

(3) New outdoor lighting fixtures shall minimize light trespass in
accordance with the Green Building Regulations where applicable, or
otherwise shall direct, shield, and control light to keep it from falling
onto surrounding properties. Zero direct-beam illumination shall leave
the premises.

(4) Outdoor lighting shall not exceed nominal 4000 Kelvin Color
Correlated Temperature (CCT).

(5) All outdoor lighting, including search lights, shall be turned off
between 11:00 P.M. and 6:00 A.M. except:

(A) Outdoor lighting may remain lighted for commercial and
industrial uses that continue to be fully operational after 11:00
P.M. such as sales, assembly, and repair; and for security
purposes or to illuminate walkways, roadways, equipment
yards, and parking lots subject to the following:

(i) Adequate lighting for public safety shall be maintained.
Outdoor lighting shall otherwise be reduced after 11:00
P.M. where practicable.

(ii) Within 30 miles of the Palomar and Mount Laguna
observatories, outdoor lighting after 11:00 P.M. shall be
limited to a maximum of 4,050 lumens per fixture or a
maximum of 2500 Kelvin CCT.

(B) Outdoor lighting for the following is permitted to remain
lighted after 11:00 P.M. and is exempt from the maximum
Kelvin CCT and maximum lumen requirements specified in
Section 142.0740(c)(4) and (c)(5)(A):

(i) Outdoor lighting used to illuminate recreational
activities that are not in a residential zone may continue
after 11:00 P.M. only when equipped with automatic
timing devices and shielded to minimize light pollution.

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(ii) Illuminated on-premises signs for businesses that are
open to the public after 11:00 P.M. may remain lighted
during business operating hours only. Illuminated off-
premises advertising display signs shall not be lighted
after 11:00 P.M. Signs located both on-and off-
premises shall be equipped with automatic timing
devices.

(iii) Outdoor lighting for automated teller machines and
associated parking lot facilities and access areas shall
be provided during hours of darkness in accordance
with California Financial Code Sections 13040-13041.

(C) Outdoor lighting for illumination of the flag of the United
States of America.

(6) On properties which are adjacent to or contain sensitive biological resources, any exterior lighting shall be limited to low-level lights and shields to minimize the amount of light entering any identified sensitive biological resource areas.

(7) Prior to installation of an outdoor light fixture, an Electrical Permit
shall be obtained when required in accordance with Section 129.0302.
When an Electrical Permit is required, the applicant shall identify the
proposed light fixture schedule to the satisfaction of the Building
Official including the number of lumens and the backlight, up light,
and glare rating for each fixture to demonstrate compliance with
Section 142.0740.

(d) Outdoor lighting within the Centre City Planned District, Gaslamp Quarter
Planned District, and Marina Planned District is exempt from the flat lens,
color temperature, and curfew requirements identified in Section
142.0740(c)(2), (4), and (5) in order to meet the unique needs of downtown
including active night time commercial and entertainment uses, high
pedestrian activity, and enhancement of the City’s downtown skyline in
accordance with the Downtown Community Plan.

(e) Temporary outdoor lighting (including lighting for temporary uses, special
events, and seasonal holiday lighting) is exempt from Section 142.0740(c)(2),
(4), and (5) where the lighting does not exceed 60 consecutive days or more
than 120 days during any one year period.

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(f) Deviations from Section 142.0740 may be requested with a Process Four
Planned Development Permit in accordance with Section 126.0602(b)(1).

(g) Outdoor lighting on facilities or lands owned, operated, controlled or protected by the United States Government, State of California, County of San Diego, City of San Diego, or other public entity or public agency not subject to City of San Diego ordinances is exempt from the requirements of this division. Voluntary compliance with the intent of Section 142.0740 is encouraged. (Added 12-9-1997 by O-18451 N.S.; amended 10-18-1999 by O-18691 N.S.; effective 1-1-2000.) (Amended 11-28-2005 by O-19444 N.S.; effective 2-9-2006.) (Amended 3-1-2006 by O-19467 N.S.; effective 8-10-2006.) (Amended 7-31-2012 by O-20187 N.S.; effective 8-30-2012.) (Amended 7-31-2012 by O-20186 N.S.; effective 9-6-2012.) (Amended 1-27-2022 by O-21416 N.S.; effective 2-26-2022.) (Amended 3-4-2024 by O-21771 N.S.; effective 4-12-2024.)

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Article 2: General Development Regulations