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Kenansville City Zoning Code

OUTDOOR LIGHTING

§ 152.235 PURPOSE.

   (A)   The purpose of this subchapter is to control light spillage and glare so as not to adversely affect motorists, pedestrians and land uses of adjacent properties.
   (B)   More specifically, this subchapter is intended to:
      (1)   Control lighting to assure that excessive light spillage and glare are not directed at adjacent properties, neighboring areas and motorists;
      (2)   Ensure that all site lighting shall be designed and installed to maintain adequate lighting levels on-site; and
      (3)   Provide security for persons and land.
(Ord. passed 3-5-2018)

§ 152.236 APPLICABILITY.

   Unless exempted in accordance with § 152.237 of this chapter, the provisions of this section shall apply to attached residential, institutional, commercial and industrial uses.
(Ord. passed 3-5-2018)

§ 152.237 EXEMPTIONS.

   The standards of this subchapter shall not apply to government-owned, operated or maintained street lights located within a street right-of-way or other easement granted to the town.
(Ord. passed 3-5-2018)

§ 152.238 DESIGN STANDARDS FOR EXTERIOR LIGHTING.

   All exterior lighting shall conform to the following standards.
   (A)   Maximum lighting height.
      (1)   Except for outdoor sports fields or performance areas, outdoor lighting heights shall be no greater than:
         (a)   Eighteen feet above grade for pedestrian lighting; and
         (b)   Twenty-five feet above grade for vehicular lighting.
      (2)   Wherever possible, illumination of outdoor seating areas, building entrances and walkways shall be accomplished by use of ground mounted fixtures not more than four feet in height.
   (B)   Illumination direction.
      (1)   In all districts, lighting of non- residential development shall be directed downward. In addition, upwardly-directed lighting shall not be used to illuminate structures, except for low-wattage architectural lighting.
      (2)   Outdoor lighting shall not shine directly into the yard or windows of a adjacent residential uses.
   (C)   Location. All lighting shall be located at least ten feet from side lot lines, rear lot lines and required perimeter buffers.
   (D)   Shielding.
      (1)   Light fixtures in excess of 60 watts or 100 lumens shall use full cut-off lenses or hoods to prevent glare or spillover from the project site onto adjacent lands and streets.
      (2)   No interior light source shall be positioned, aimed or configured so as to result in the light source being visible from land occupied by existing residential development.
      (3)   No light source in a canopy structure shall extend downward further than the lowest edge of the canopy ceiling.
      (4)   Awnings or canopies used for building accents over doors, windows and the like shall be allowed to be internally illuminated (i.e., from underneath or behind the awning); provided, the state’s Building and Electrical Codes are met.
   (E)   Maximum light levels. All outdoor lighting shall be designed and located such that the maximum illumination measured in foot candles at the property line shall not exceed one foot candle. The average intensity illumination for outdoor lighting shall not exceed an average of six foot candles in intensity as measured at grade. Vehicular use area lighting shall not exceed a maintained average of two and one-half foot candles.
   (F)   Hue. All outdoor and parking lot lighting fixtures, including metal halide, mercury vapor, fluorescent, induction, white high-pressure sodium and color-improved high-pressure sodium lamps used in non-cutoff fixtures shall be coated with an internal white frosting inside the outer lamp envelope.
(Ord. passed 3-5-2018)  Penalty, see § 152.999

§ 152.239 WALL-MOUNTED LIGHTS.

   (A)   Wall-mounted lights shall be fully shielded luminaries (such as shoebox or can style fixtures) to prevent the light source from being visible from any adjacent residential property or public street right-of- way. Nothing in this section shall prevent the use of decorative lighting fixtures provided that the source of illumination is not visible from adjacent lands used or zoned for residential purposes, and provided that the maximum illumination values comply with the standards in § 152.238(E) of this chapter.
   (B)   Wall packs on buildings may be used at entrances to a building to light unsafe areas. They are not intended to draw attention to the building or provide general building or site lighting. Wall packs on the exterior of the building shall be fully shielded (true cut-off type bulb or light source not visible from off-site) to direct the light downward and be of low wattage (preferably 100 watts or lower). Other accent lighting projected onto buildings may be allowed provided that it is approved through the development plan process.
(Ord. passed 3-5-2018)  Penalty, see § 152.999

§ 152.240 FLOODLIGHTS AND SPOTLIGHTS.

   Floodlights and spotlights shall be selected, located, aimed and shielded so that direct illumination is focused exclusively on a portion of the building facade or other intended site feature and away from adjoining lands or the right-of-way. On-site lighting may be used to accent architectural elements but shall not be used to illuminate entire portions of building(s). Such lighting shall be installed in a fixture that is shielded so that no portion of the light bulb extends below the bottom edge or above the top edge of the shield, and the main beam from the light source is not visible from adjacent lands or the adjacent right-of- way. Floodlights or other type of lighting attached to light poles that illuminate the site or building(s) are prohibited.
(Ord. passed 3-5-2018)  Penalty, see § 152.999

§ 152.241 ILLUMINATION OF OUTDOOR SPORTS FIELDS AND PERFORMANCE AREAS.

   All lighting fixtures serving outdoor sports fields and performance areas shall be equipped with a glare control package (e.g., louvers, shields or similar devices), and the fixtures shall be aimed so that their beams are directed and fall within the primary playing or performance area.
(Ord. passed 3-5-2018)  Penalty, see § 152.999

§ 152.242 SIGN LIGHTING.

   Lighting fixtures illuminating signs shall comply with the standards of this subchapter, and such fixtures shall be aimed and shielded so that direct illumination is focused exclusively on the sign face.
(Ord. passed 3-5-2018)  Penalty, see § 152.999