17.40.010 Legislative findings

The City Commission makes the following findings:

1. Improperly located lighting can cause unsafe and unpleasant conditions.
2. Excessive lighting can cause unsafe and unpleasant conditions and waste electricity.
3. Obtrusive lighting can cause unsafe and unpleasant conditions.
4. Proper lighting can enhance safety and enjoyment of the built environment.
5. On balance, lighting with a higher color rendering index (CRI) provides more desirable lighting than lighting with a lower CRI.
6. Illumination levels should be appropriate to the visual task.

17.40.020 Purpose

This chapter is established to promote the public health, safety, and welfare and is intended to accomplish the following purposes:

1. allow appropriate lighting levels to preserve safety, security, and the nighttime use and enjoyment of property
2. reduce light pollution, light trespass, glare, and offensive lighting
3. promote energy conservation
4. allow people in residential areas to view the stars against a dark sky
5. enhance the aesthetics of the built environment
6. protect the character of the natural environment

17.40.030 Applicability

1. New construction/uses. The provisions of this chapter shall apply to parking lots, buildings, structures, and land uses established after the effective date of this chapter.
2. Expansion and redevelopment. The provisions of this chapter shall apply to the entire building/structure, parking area, or use, as appropriate, under the following conditions:
   1. when a building or structure is expanded in size by 25 percent or more
   2. when the area of a parking area is expanded by 25 percent or more
   3. when an outdoor use (e.g., outdoor storage, vehicle sales) is expanded by 25 percent or more

   The stated thresholds apply to a single addition or cumulative additions occurring after the effective date of this chapter.

3. Exemptions. The following are exempt:
   1. public lighting that is located within a public right-of-way
   2. lighting required by the Federal Aviation Administration (FAA) for aviation control/safety
   3. seasonal lighting displays using low-wattage incandescent lamps between November 15 through January 15 of the following year
   4. lights used by police, fire, and medical personnel during an emergency
   5. luminaires attached to a residential building which are less than 2,000 lumens and mounted below the eave
   6. lighting placed underwater to illuminate swimming pools or fountains, for lamp type and shield standards only

17.40.040 Prohibited lighting

The following types of outdoor lighting are specifically prohibited:

1. lighting that could be confused for a traffic control device
2. lighting that is oriented upward, except as otherwise provided for in this chapter
3. searchlights, beacons, and laser source light fixtures
4. lights that blink, flash, move, revolve, flicker, change intensity, or change color
5. any lamp or bulb when not within a luminaire and which is visible from the property boundary line of the parcel on which it is located, except for landscape ornamental lighting
6. lighting inside of an awning when the awning material is translucent
7. a string of lights, suspended between 2 or more objects (e.g., between 2 poles)

17.40.050 General standards

1. Illumination level at property boundary line. When a commercial or industrial use abuts a residential use, lighting shall be designed so that the illumination at the property boundary line that is attributable to the subject property does not exceed 0.3 foot-candles. When a commercial or industrial use abuts a public right-of-way, or another commercial or industrial use, lighting shall be designed so that the illumination at the property boundary line does not exceed 1.0 foot-candles.
2. Lighting required. Lighting shall be provided to illuminate sidewalks or other pedestrian paths, primary building entrances, and parking areas.
3. Pole-mounted luminaires. Luminaires shall not be taller than 20 feet in residential zoning districts or when placed within 50 feet of a residential zoning district. In all other zoning districts, luminaires shall not be taller than 30 feet.
4. Building-mounted luminaires. In non-residential zoning districts, building-mounted luminaires shall not be attached to a sloped roof and shall not be taller than 30 feet or the height of the principal building, whichever is less. The use of wall-pack luminaires is discouraged.
5. Overhead electrical lines prohibited. For new installations, electrical lines for luminaires mounted on freestanding poles shall be placed underground between poles.
   
6. Material for light poles. Light poles shall be anodized, painted or otherwise coated so as to minimize glare from the light source.
7. Placement in buffer areas. Lights may not be placed in buffer areas that may be required by this Title, except for low-level lights for security purposes as approved by the City.
8. Continued maintenance. Lighting installations shall be maintained in good repair to meet the provisions of this chapter on an on-going basis.
9. Lighting curfew. For parcels with non-residential uses, lighting in vehicle parking areas containing 20 parking spaces or more shall be reduced to 50 percent of permitted levels one hour after the business closing to one hour before the business opens. If lighting levels are already below 50 percent of permitted levels, no curfew adjustment is required.
10. Luminaire types. Full-cutoff luminaires shall be used in parking areas, along internal streets, and along pedestrian ways. The City may allow cutoff luminaires or semi-cutoff luminaires in these locations when the overall uplight would be less than for full-cutoff luminaires. To promote a unified development theme, post top luminaires (also referred to as period lighting) may be used as an alternate if they have built-in reflectors that effectively eliminate uplight. Except as provided in this chapter, all other luminaires shall be directed downward and the light source shall be shielded so that it is not visible from any adjacent property.
11. Maximum average lighting levels. Average lighting levels shall not exceed the standards provided for in Exhibit 40-1. For those areas not specified, the Director of Community Development shall work with the applicant to set an appropriate level on a case-by-case basis in keeping with the intent of this chapter.
12. Maximum uniformity ratio. In all parking areas and along sidewalks and other pedestrian walkways, an average to minimum uniformity ratio of 6:1 or better shall be maintained.

    Exhibit 40-1. Maximum average light levels

    Location	Foot-candles
    At entries for residential, commercial, and industrial buildings	5.0
    At loading areas (berths) associated with a commercial or industrial use	10.0
    In parking areas for multi-family uses	3.0
    In parking areas for non-residential uses	5.0
    Along sidewalks and other pedestrian walkways	3.0
    Under service station canopies	20.0
    In general storage areas for commercial and industrial uses	8.0
    In vehicular display areas	15.0

13. Minimum color rendering index (CRI). In all parking areas and along sidewalks and other pedestrian walkways, lighting shall meet or exceed the minimum color rendering index as provided for in Exhibit 40-2.

Exhibit 40-2. Minimum color rendering index for parking areas and pedestrian ways

	Minimum color rendering index (CRI)
Residential zoning districts	60
Central business core and central business periphery	60
Mixed-use zoning districts	60
Commercial zoning districts, except central business core and central business periphery	20
Industrial zoning districts	20

17.40.060 Special standards for specific applications

1. Flag poles, statues and similar monuments. A flag pole bearing a state flag, a flag of the United States or a flag of a foreign nation may be illuminated, provided the following standards are met:
   1. The luminaires shall be fully shielded.
   2. Upward aiming luminaires shall be placed as close to the base as possible.
   3. The luminaires shall not collectively exceed 40,000 mean lumens.

   Public statues, memorials or other similar monuments may also be lighted upon approval by the Community Development Director, provided the above standards are met.

2. Building façade lighting. The exterior of a building may be lighted provided the following standards are met:
   1. The lighting is done to accentuate an architectural or aesthetic element of the building, not the entire building.
   2. The light shall only be directed onto the building façade and not spillover beyond the plane of the building.
   3. Upward aimed lighting shall not exceed 4,000 mean lumens per accent feature, shall be fully shielded, and mounted as flush to the wall as possible.
   4. Lighting exceeding 4,000 mean lumens per accent feature shall be aimed downward, fully shielded, and mounted as flush to the wall as possible.
3. Sign lighting. Signs may be lighted consistent with the following standards:
   1. Ground signs that are less than 6 feet in height may be internally lit, lighted from above provided the luminaire is no taller than the top of the sign, or lighted with ground-mounted lights provided the lights are fully shielded and mounted as close to the sign base as possible.
   2. Ground signs 6 feet in height or taller may be internally lit or lighted from above provided the luminaire is no taller than the top of the sign.
   3. Wall signs may be internally lit or lighted with ground-mounted lights provided the lights are fully shielded and mounted as close to the wall as possible.
4. Canopy lighting. Lighting associated with a canopy used for a vehicular shelter shall meet the following standards:
   1. Luminaires beneath a canopy shall be either a full-cutoff luminaire or mounted so the luminaire or lens, which ever is lower, does not project below the bottom of the canopy surface.
   2. The sides or top of the canopy shall not be illuminated, except as permitted by the sign standards.
   3. Lighting installed beneath a canopy shall be pointed downward and substantially confined to the ground surface directly beneath the perimeter of the canopy.
   4. Lighting beyond the perimeter of the canopy shall be consistent with the lighting standards for parking areas.
5. Telecommunication facilities. Telecommunication facilities shall be unlit, except for the following:
   1. A manually operated or motion detector controlled light above the equipment shed door which shall be kept off except when personnel are actually present at night.
   2. The minimum tower lighting required by the Federal Aviation Administration or other State or federal requirement. Where tower lighting is required, it shall be shielded or directed to the greatest extent possible in such a manner as to minimize the amount of light that falls onto nearby properties, particularly residences.
6. Recreational facilities. Lighting for outdoor athletic fields, courts, or tracks shall meet the following standards:
   1. 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).
   2. Light trespass and glare shall be reduced to the greatest extent possible given the illumination constraints of the design. When an outdoor athletic field abuts a residential district, lighting as a goal should be designed so that the illumination at the property boundary line that is attributable to the subject property does not exceed 0.5 foot-candles.
   3. Lighting used to illuminate the athletic surface shall be turned off within one hour after the last event of the night.
   4. Events shall be scheduled to conclude no later than 10:30 p.m., while allowing for unusual circumstances such as rain delays.
   5. Lighting shall be designed by a registered engineer having experience with lighting installations.