§ 9-403

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

The standards of this Chapter apply to all development and to exterior alterations and additions that involve replacement light fixtures or lighting systems unless the lighting is exempt from the provisions of this Chapter.

The following lighting is exempt from the provisions of this Chapter.

(a)

Holiday Lights. Holiday lighting, provided that no individual lamp exceeds 10 watts and 70 lumens. Flashing holiday lights are prohibited on commercial properties.

(b)

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.

(c)

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.

(d)

Temporary Lighting. Any individual may submit a written request to the Zoning Administrator for a temporary exemption from the requirements of this Chapter. 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 and the length of time for the requested exemption;

(B)

Type, location, and proposed use of exterior light involved;

(C)

Type of lamp, calculated lumens, and total wattage of the lamp or lamps

(D)

Previous temporary exemptions, if any; and

(E)

Physical size of exterior light and type of shielding provided.

The following types of lighting 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. 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 Chapter 9-406, Signs.

(a)

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.

(b)

Entrances in Multi-Unit Dwelling Development. All entrances to multi-unit residential buildings containing more than four units shall be lighted with low intensity fixtures of at least 0.25 foot-candles at the ground level during hours of darkness.

(c)

Entrances to Non-Residential Buildings. All exterior doors shall be illuminated with a minimum of 0.5 footcandles of light during hours of darkness.

(d)

Shielding. All nonexempt outdoor lighting fixtures shall have shielding so as not to be directly visible from a public street or an adjacent lot.

(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 zone. All lighting for outdoor recreations facilities shall require an Zoning Compliance Review and meet the following requirements:

(1)

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

(2)

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 multisport venue, and the maximum number of attendees.

(3)

Off-Site Spillover Light. The installation shall limit off-site spillover light to the maximum extent possible consistent with the illumination constraints of the design.

(4)

Certification. Every such lighting system design and installation shall be certified by a California-registered engineer as conforming to all applicable standards of this Chapter.

(b)

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

(1)

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

(2)

Illuminance. The display lot shall be designed to achieve no greater than the minimal illuminance levels for the activity as recommended by IESNA.

(3)

Off-Site Spillover Light. The display lot shall limit off-site spillover light (off the parcel containing the display lot) to a maximum of 5 lux (0.5 footcandles (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.

(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.

(1)

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.

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 is to be included toward the total at full initial lumen output. Canopy lighting includes, but is 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.

Chapter 9-404 - Noise