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Title 19 — Development Code

§ 19.78

Twentynine Palms Zoning Code · 2026-06 edition · updated 2026-07-25 · Twentynine Palms

19.78.010 - Purpose

This Chapter establishes lighting standards to encourage effective, nondetrimental lighting; maintain nighttime safety, utility, security and productivity; and encourage lighting practices and systems which will minimize light pollution, glare, and light trespass, conserve energy and resources and curtail the degradation of the nighttime visual environment of the areas outlined below.

19.78.020 - Applicability

The regulations contained in this Chapter shall apply to all projects as follows:

A.

New Uses and Buildings. For all buildings erected and all uses of land established after the effective date of this Title, outdoor lighting shall be provided in accordance with the requirements of this Chapter.

B.

Modification to Existing Structures and Uses. Whenever an existing building is modified or a use is expanded such that it creates an increase of more than 20 percent or 2,500 square feet in the gross floor area of the building or use, whichever is more, outdoor lighting shall be provided in accordance with the requirements of this Chapter.

C.

Outdoor lighting fixtures established prior to the adoption date of this Chapter shall come into compliance within one year of the adoption date except as provided below:

1.

In the event the property owner or occupant demonstrates that compliance will cause a financial or other hardship, the Community Development Director may approve time extensions for such lighting fixtures for periods of up to one year. A maximum of three one-year extensions may be granted by the Director.

2.

If an extreme hardship exists, the Planning Commission may approve additional extensions of time if a finding is made that such extension does not create a public nuisance.

3.

All requests for extension shall be in writing and shall be signed by the owner or occupant of the property.

19.78.030 - Definitions

The following definitions shall apply to this Chapter:

A.

Architectural Lighting. Lighting which is either directed toward a residence with the intent of highlighting an architectural feature or a light fixture which is architecturally ornamental in nature or purpose.

B.

Cut-off Fixture. Outdoor lighting fixtures shielded or constructed so that light rays are only emitted by the installed fixtures in such a manner that does not direct light upward or onto neighboring uses and limits glare from the light rays in the area above 80 degrees from the vertical pole.

C.

Fixture. The assembly that holds a lamp and may include an assembly housing, a mounting bracket or polo socket, lamp holder, ballast, reflector or mirror and a refractor or lens.

D.

Foot-candle. A measure of illuminance in lumens per square foot.

E.

Freestanding Lighting. A light fixture which is not attached to a building.

F.

Fully Shielded. Outdoor lighting fixtures shielded or constructed so that light rays are only emitted by the installed fixtures in such a manner that does not direct light upward or onto neighboring uses.

G.

Night Sky. A clear sky, between dusk and dawn, with visible stars, despite necessary or desired illumination of private and public property.

H.

Pedestrian Lighting. Freestanding lighting fixtures not exceeding a height of 36 inches from surrounding ground grade level.

19.78.040 - Permit Requirements and Exemptions

A.

Permit Required. Consistency with the regulations contained in this Chapter shall be reviewed concurrent with any required building permit or land use permit for applicable projects.

B.

Prohibited Lighting. Searchlights for advertising purposes are prohibited.

C.

Exemptions. The following outdoor lighting fixtures are exempt from the requirements of this Chapter.

1.

Fixtures producing light directly by the combustion of fossil fuels, such as kerosene lanterns or gas lamps.

2.

Existing nonconforming neon outdoor lighting fixtures.

3.

Emergency lighting operated by a public utility or agency during the course of repairing or replacing damaged facilities.

4.

Emergency lighting and fixtures necessary to conduct rescue operations, provide emergency medical treatment or address any other emergency situation.

5.

Provided there is no light trespass or the lighting fixtures are regulated by motion detector, lighting fixtures within 5 feet of an entrance or exit door and/or alcove of a dwelling unit, not exceeding a height of 8 feet and no greater than 5.0 foot-candles as measured at a 5-foot radius from the door and no greater than 0.05 foot-candle measured at the property line abutting residential uses.

6.

Holiday lighting and fixtures, providing such lighting and fixtures do not remain for longer than 60 days in duration.

7.

Architectural lighting, whether it is freestanding or attached to a building which does not exceed an intensity of 2.0 foot-candles.

8.

Pedestrian lighting which does not have an intensity greater than 2.0 foot-candles.

9.

Vertical lighting for a properly displayed US flag.

19.78.050 - Development Standards - General

A.

Shielding Requirements. All outdoor lighting, except as specified in SubSection 19.70.040.C (Exemptions) shall be fully shielded. Examples of appropriate fixtures are shown in Figure 19.78.050-1 (Examples of Acceptable/Unacceptable Lighting Fixtures).

B.

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 19.78.050-2 (Illumination Requirements) and are measured at ground level, unless otherwise noted.

Figure 19.78.050-1

Examples of Acceptable/Unacceptable Lighting Fixtures

Table 19.78.050-2

Illumination Requirements

Category Where Measured Required Illumination
(minimum or maximum)		 Notes
Public, civic, and religious
buildings		 Permitted to be fully illuminated
during hours of operation. After
hours, may be dimmed or turned
off such that only lighting
essential to security or safety
shall be maintained.
General
Parking lots, driveways, trash
enclosures, public phones,
group mailboxes		 Within 2-foot radius of object
edge		 1.0 foot-candle (minimum) and
4.0 foot-candles (maximum)		 At all hours
Parking lots for banks,
convenience stores, check
cashing businesses		 At point of highest and lowest
light level		 1.5 foot-candle (minimum) and
4.0 foot-candles (maximum)		 During operating hours
Parking lots for residential land
uses		 At point of highest and lowest
light level		 0.5 foot-candle (minimum) and
2.0 foot-candles (maximum)		 During hours of darkness
Pedestrian walkways Center of walkway at point of
highest and lowest light level		 0.5 foot-candle (minimum) and
2.0 foot-candles (maximum)		 Only applies to walkways
intended for use after dark
Nonresidential structures,
entryways, and doors		 5-foot radius of door (each side) 5.0 foot-candle (maximum) During hours of darkness
Adjacent residential property At structure and rear setback
line		 0.05 foot-candle (maximum)

19.78.060 - Development Standards by Land Use

A.

Residential Land Use. Pole lighting shall not exceed 12 feet in height.

B.

Parking Lot Lighting.

1.

Parking lot lighting shall be oriented downward with cut-off fixtures to protect the desert sky.

2.

At least 50 percent of all lighting fixtures within parking lots or within open lot sale areas shall be turned off within one hour after closing or between 10:00 p.m. and sunrise, whichever occurs first.

C.

Recreational Facilities. There shall be no illumination of private or public recreational facilities unless the facilities are being utilized. The illumination must be turned off between the hours of 10:00 p.m. and sunrise or one hour after the termination of the event and/or use, whichever occurs last.

D.

Billboards and Externally Illuminated Signs. Lighting fixtures used to illuminate any new sign shall be mounted on the top of the sign structure and shall comply with the shielding requirements of this Chapter and the City's Sign Code.

19.78.070 - Penalty for Violation

Violation of this Chapter shall constitute an infraction on the first and second offense and a misdemeanor on the third offense. Each day of violation may be cited as a separate offense.

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▸ Contents — Twentynine Palms Zoning Code
Twentynine Palms Zoning Code
  1. ▸ Title 19 — Development Code
    Overview
    1. § 19.02
    2. § 19.020
    3. § 19.04
    4. § 19.06
    5. § 19.08
    6. § 19.10
    7. § 19.12
    8. § 19.14
    9. § 19.16
    10. § 19.18
    11. § 19.20
    12. § 19.22
    13. § 19.26
    14. § 19.28
    15. § 19.29
    16. § 19.30
    17. § 19.32
    18. § 19.34
    19. § 19.35
    20. § 19.36
    21. § 19.37
    22. § 19.38
    23. § 19.40
    24. § 19.41
    25. § 19.42
    26. § 19.43
    27. § 19.44
    28. § 19.46
    29. § 19.48
    30. § 19.50
    31. § 19.52
    32. § 19.54
    33. § 19.55
    34. § 19.56
    35. § 19.57
    36. § 19.58
    37. § 19.60
    38. § 19.62
    39. § 19.64
    40. § 19.66
    41. § 19.68
    42. § 19.69
    43. § 19.70
    44. § 19.72
    45. § 19.73
    46. § 19.74
    47. § 19.78
    48. Chapter 19.80 — Noise Control

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