Douglas County Unincorporated
City Zoning Code

Lighting required by the FAA for air traffic control and warning purposes.

Lighting in the public right-of-way installed by the controlling jurisdiction.

Lighting required temporarily for emergency purposes or repairs in the right-of-way, which must comply with applicable state regulations.

Temporary use of low-wattage lighting for public festivals or events, and the observance of holidays, provided they do not create disability glare.

Single-family residential lighting, except as prohibited herein.

Lighting installed by a governmental entity for the benefit of public health, safety, and welfare.

Blinking, flashing or changing intensity lights including those proposed for signage.

Lighting that could be confused with a traffic control device.

Lighting of a type, style or intensity determined to interfere with the safe flow of traffic.

Strobe lights, searchlights, beacons and laser light, or similar upward or outward oriented lighting.

Exposed neon, exposed LED, or similar exposed lighting, except when used for illuminating window signs and the display area of electronic message signs.

Lighting creating a public hazard, including lighting that creates disability glare particularly where such disability glare has a detrimental effect on motor vehicle traffic.

Lights mounted on poles for the purpose of illuminating the building facade.

High-intensity floodlighting except as approved for sports facility lighting.

Wall pack light fixtures that are not classified as full-cutoff.

Light fixtures, except as otherwise permitted herein, are required to be full-cutoff as defined by the Illuminating Engineers Society of North America (IESNA). Full-cutoff light fixtures result in a light distribution pattern where no light is permitted at or above a horizontal plane at the bottom of the fixture.

Light fixtures shall be installed and maintained in a manner consistent with the intended application and as approved in the Site Improvement Plan (SIP). Full cutoff fixtures may not be tilted or aimed in a manner that results in light distribution above the horizontal plane.

Light fixtures associated with canopies, including but not limited to fuel islands, seasonal outdoor sales areas, shopping malls, theaters, bank drive-thrus, and hotels shall be full-cutoff or mounted so that the bottom of the lens is recessed or flush with the bottom surface of the canopy. All light emitted from the canopy shall be substantially confined to the ground directly beneath the perimeter of the canopy. No lighting of any kind, except as permitted by sign regulations, shall be allowed on the top or sides of a canopy. The design of the canopy in terms of height above grade, and the spacing between the fixtures within the canopy, shall be such that the illuminance level under the canopy does not exceed 20 foot-candles.

All light fixtures mounted within 15 feet of any residential property line of the site shall be classified as IES Type II or Type III, or fixture demonstrated to provide similar distribution patterns and shielding properties. Fixtures shall be fitted with "house side shield" reflectors on the sides facing the residential property line. Light levels shall not exceed 0.1 foot-candles 20 feet from the abutting property line as a direct result of the on-site lighting.

Illuminance levels shall not exceed 10 foot-candles measured as initial horizontal illuminance except as otherwise permitted herein. The initial illuminance level is measured following 100 hours of operation. The illuminance levels at building entrances and window may exceed 10 foot-candles by 100% up to a distance of five feet from the building only in order to accommodate light spillage from within the building and light from signage. At a distance of 10 feet from the building or use, the illuminance level must be less than or equal to 10 foot-candles.

The use of horizontal lamps is recommended for pole-mounted light fixtures in parking lots. If the lamp position within a fixture is vertical, any or all of the following may be required:

Poles supporting light fixtures designed to illuminate parking areas and drive entrances shall be round unless an alternative is shown to be architecturally superior. The protective pole standard may not exceed a height of 30 inches from grade. If the pole is otherwise protected within a parking island or an intervening curb or walkway, no standard is required. Maximum parking lot pole height shall be as follows:

A maximum of two light fixtures per pole is recommended for parking lots except for perimeter lighting, which should be limited to one fixture per pole. The fixtures shall not incorporate "basket" features or similar design elements that could deflect light horizontally or upward. Perimeter lighting must be classified by IES as Type II, or Type III, or a fixture demonstrated to provide similar distribution patterns and shielding properties.

The use of semi-cutoff or cutoff (as opposed to full-cutoff) fixtures shall be permitted to illuminate areas other than parking lots, provided the pole or mounting point is no more than 10 feet in height and the maximum lumen output does not exceed 1800 lumens per lamp. The poles should be round unless an alternative is shown to be architecturally superior. A maximum of one lamp per fixture and two fixtures per pole or mounting point is strongly encouraged. Fixtures located on poles or at mounting points more than 10 feet in height, or that exceed 1800 lumens per lamp, shall be full-cutoff fixtures.

Bollards, or similar light fixtures that do not exceed four feet in height, intended to illuminate landscape features or walkways, may be permitted as part of the overall lighting plan upon approval of the SIP. Lamps shall not exceed 900 lumens for any single lamp. A maximum of two fixtures per bollard and one lamp per fixture is recommended.

All lights, except those required for security as provided herein, shall be reduced to security levels within one hour after the end of business until one hour prior to the commencement of business. Security lighting at entrances, stairways and loading docks, as well as limited parking lot lighting, is permitted. The use of motion sensors for security lighting is strongly encouraged. Security lighting shall comply with all applicable provisions contained herein and may not exceed the maximum foot-candle level permitted on the site.

All stadium and all other exterior sports arena lights used for the purpose of illuminance of the playing area shall be turned off following the conclusion of the final event of the night. The remainder of the facility lighting including scoreboards, except for reasons of security, shall be turned off within one hour after the event, and remain extinguished until one hour prior to the commencement of the next event.

All signage lighting shall be turned off within one hour of the end of business and remain turned off until one hour prior to commencement of business. Verification of the ability to control the signage lighting shall be required as part of the sign permit application.

Illuminance of a building facade to enhance architectural features may be permitted, provided it is approved on the SIP. Downlighting is preferred, provided wall-mounted fixtures are used and illuminance is contained completely within the vertical face of the building and does not spill off the building edge. Uplighting may be permitted, provided no illuminance escapes the facade. Building facades may be illuminated to a maximum of 20 foot-candles as measured on the facade. Lights mounted on poles for the purpose of illuminating the building facade are not permitted.

All outdoor light fixtures should utilize one of the following lamp types: metal halide, induction lamp, compact fluorescent, incandescent (including tungsten-halogen), or high-pressure sodium. Alternatives are permitted, provided they are demonstrated to be more effective for the proposed use based on IESNA recommendations.

Lighting in single-family residential areas and agricultural areas should be limited to 2,400 lumens per fixture unless shielded. Lighting used for security purposes should be placed on motion sensors.

Illumination of a flag on a flagpole is permitted, provided a narrow spread 39-watt par metal halide or 50-watt par-halogen lamp, or an equivalent lamp with a similar narrow spread, is used and aimed to only illuminate the top of the flagpole. The source of illuminance (lamp) must be shielded in a manner so as not to be visible from adjacent property.

The source of illuminance (lamp) from any fixture, including interior fixtures visible through windows, shall not create disability glare on adjacent properties.

All signage must comply with Part 29, contained herein. Signs may be internally illuminated, backlit or illuminated by down lighting or by ground-mounted light fixtures that illuminate the sign face and base only. Internally illuminated signs shall be limited to a maximum of 1,000 nits. Once the ground-mounted light fixtures are positioned and aimed in accordance with these requirements, they shall be permanently secured to prevent inadvertent or accidental misalignment.

Illuminance of the sign face by ground-mounted light fixtures shall not exceed 50 foot-candles as measured on the sign face. No sign may be illuminated with fixtures that allow for the unshielded upward transmission of light.