Fridley City Zoning Code

1. The City of Fridley recognizes the health, safety, welfare and aesthetic value of providing lighting standards in the community. These lighting provisions are intended to:

(a) Establish efficient and cost-effective lighting requirements adequate for safety and security;

(b) Reduce light pollution, light trespass, glare and offensive light sources;

(c) Provide an environmentally sensitive nighttime environment;

(d) Discourage inappropriate, poorly designed or installed outdoor lighting by requiring quality lighting design, light fixture shielding and maximum uniformity ratios; and

(e) Protect motor vehicle operators, pedestrians and adjacent land uses from glare.

1. Lighting must not negatively impact adjacent properties nor create a hazard for vehicular or pedestrian traffic. Unless exempted by this section, exterior lighting must be directed downward and away from adjoining property with luminaries shielded.

2. Lighting must be designed to provide adequate lighting throughout a site.

3. Site plans submitted with a building permit application, except for single-unit or two-unit dwellings, must contain lighting and landscape plans, in accordance with the Procedures Chapter. Plans must be signed by a registered Electrician, Electrical Engineer or a Lighting Certified (LC) professional certified by the National Council on Qualifications for the Lighting Professions.

4. Lights for illuminating parking and loading areas or yards for safety and security purposes may be provided where necessary. No light or combination of lights which cast light upon a public street may exceed one foot candle meter reading as measured from the centerline of the street nor may any light or combination of lights cast light upon residentially zoned property exceeding 0.3 foot candle meter reading as measured at the receiving residential lot line.

5. The maximum height above the ground grade permitted for poles, fixtures and light sources mounted on a pole is 25 feet.

6. Any lighting used to illuminate an off-street parking area must be shielded or diffused to reflect the light away from adjoining property and traffic.

7. Outdoor lighting reduction in non-residential areas and common areas of multi-unit residential properties must be no later than 11 p.m. For those businesses which are open later than 11 p.m., outdoor lighting reduction must occur one hour after the close of business. After such time, total outdoor brightness (foot candles) must be reduced by at least 50% or turned off.

8. Motion sensing light fixtures must be adjusted according to the manufacturer’s instructions to dim or turn off no more than 10 minutes after detected motion ceases.

9. The Community Development Director may approve a lighting plan that has different standards for time of lighting reduction and motion lights if applicable based on traffic, safety or other unique site conditions.

10. Expansions, additions or replacements to exterior lighting installations must be designed to avoid harsh contrasts in color or lighting levels.

1. The lighting below is exempt from the provisions of this Chapter:

(a) Publicly controlled or maintained street lighting and warning, emergency or traffic signals;

(b) Lighting required by federal, state, county or city ordinances and regulations;

(c) Lighting for public monuments, statues, flagpoles or other similar elements, provided that:

(1) Any spotlight used for this purpose is shielded from adjacent properties

(2) A flagpole may not have more than three upward aimed, fully shielded spotlight fixtures per flag.

(d) Lighting specified or identified in a land use approval;

(e) Temporary outdoor lighting used for civic events, performance areas, outdoor events and construction sites;

(f) Lighting for public outdoor recreation uses;

(g) Neon signs, theater marquee lights or decorative lighting that meets all of the requirements of this Chapter and the Signs Chapter of the Code.

(h) Athletic fields and outdoor recreation facilities serving or operated by an institutional or public use that otherwise meet all of the requirements of this Chapter is exempt between the hours of 7 a.m. and 10 p.m.;

(i) Ornamental lighting, such as low voltage light fixtures (12 volts or less), low wattage ornamental landscape lighting fixtures, and solar operated light fixtures having self-contained rechargeable batteries; and

(j) Underwater lighting in swimming pools, fountains and other water features.