Occoquan City Zoning Code
OUTDOOR LIGHTING
REQUIREMENTS
§ 157.285 GENERAL REQUIREMENTS AND EXEMPTIONS.
(A) Purpose and intent. The purposes of the outdoor lighting regulations are to protect dark skies and the general welfare by controlling the spillover of light onto adjacent properties, and to prevent glare from outdoor luminaires and limit the intensity of light on adjacent properties and roadways to further public safety.
(B) Conformance with applicable codes and ordinances. All outdoor artificial illuminating devices shall be installed in conformance with the provisions of this subchapter, and applicable provisions of this chapter. The most restrictive shall govern.
(C) General requirements.
(1) All outdoor light fixtures except those exempted by division (D) below and those otherwise regulated by § 157.287 shall be fully shielded. A fully shielded fixture must be a full cutoff luminaire or a decorative luminaire with full cutoff optics, and defined as an outdoor lighting fixture that is shielded or constructed so that all light emitted is projected below a horizontal plane running through the lowest part of the fixture. The light source visibility shall be shielded from the adjoining property (See Figures 1 and 2 in § 157.288).
(2) Spillover light, vertical or horizontal, shall not exceed one-half foot-candles at the property line.
(3) Building- and pole-mounted luminaires shall not have adjustable features.
(D) Exemptions. Exemptions include:
(1) Outdoor light fixtures installed prior to the effective date of this subchapter are exempt from the provisions of this subchapter, provided, however, that no change in use, increase in lumen output, or structural alteration of outdoor light fixtures shall be made unless it thereafter conforms to the provisions of this subchapter. Replacement of a fixture shall mean a change of fixture type or change to the mounting height of location of a fixture. Routine lighting fixture maintenance, such as changing lamps or light bulbs, ballast, starter, photo control, and other similar components shall not constitute replacement and shall be permitted provided such changes do not result in a higher lumen output. Changing of housing or lenses in a fixture shall not constitute an exemption to the requirements of this subchapter;
(2) Lighting required by state or federal law, to the extent that compliance with state or federal law is inconsistent with compliance with this subchapter;
(3) Roadway lighting and security lighting controlled and activated by motion sensor devices for a duration of 15 minutes of less;
(4) Lighting of the U.S. or state flags and other noncommercial flags expressing constitutionally-protected speech;
(5) Temporary circus, fair, carnival, or civic uses; and/or
(6) Construction and emergency lighting provided that said lighting is temporary and is discontinued immediately upon completion of the construction work or abatement of the emergency necessitating said lighting.
(1998 Code, § 66-350) (Ord. passed 9-5-2017) Penalty, see § 10.99
§ 157.286 DEFINITIONS.
For the purpose of this subchapter, the following definitions shall apply unless the context clearly indicates or requires a different meaning.
FOOT-CANDLE. A quantitative unit of measure referring to the measurement of illumination at a single point. One FOOT-CANDLE is equal to one lumen uniformly distributed over an area of one square foot.
FULL CUTOFF ANGLE. The angle formed by a line drawn from the light source and a line perpendicular to the ground from the light source, beyond which no light is emitted. (See Figure 1 in § 157.288.)
FULLY SHIELDED. Fixtures that are shielded in such a manner that light emitted by the fixture, either directly from the lamp or indirectly from the fixture, is projected below a horizontal plane running through the lowest point on the fixture where light is emitted. This means that a FULLY SHIELDED fixture is one used in a way that allows no direct or internally reflected light to shine above the fixture. (See Figure 1 in § 157.288.)
INITIAL LUMENS. The lumens emitted from a lamp as specified by the manufacturer of the lamp.
LAMP. The component of a luminaire that produces light. A LAMP is also commonly referred to as a bulb.
LUMEN. A standard unit of measurement referring to the amount of light energy emitted by a light source without regard to the effectiveness of its distribution.
LUMINAIRE. A complete lighting unit consisting of a lamp or lamps together with the components designed to distribute the light, to position and protect the lamps, and to connect the lamps to the power supply. A LUMINAIRE is also commonly referred to as a fixture.
OUTDOOR LIGHT. Outdoor artificial illuminating devices, outdoor fixtures, lamps, or other fixture devices, permanent or portable, used for illumination, direction, or advertisement. Such devices shall include, but are not limited to, search, spot, or floodlights for: buildings and structures including canopies and overhangs; recreational areas; parking lot lighting; landscape lighting; signs, including billboards; and display and service areas.
OUTDOOR LUMINAIRE. A luminaire which is permanently installed outdoors including, but not limited to, devices used to illuminate any site, structure, or sign.
PHOTOMETRIC PLAN. A point by point plan depicting the intensity and location of lighting on the property. (See Figure 4 in § 157.288.)
TEMPORARY. Not used more than seven consecutive days and not used more than 15 days in any calendar year.
(1998 Code, § 66-351) (Ord. passed 9-5-2017)
§ 157.287 USE AND ZONING DISTRICT SPECIFIC REQUIREMENTS.
(A) Public or private outdoor recreational facilities. Outdoor night-time recreational events have unique and site specific lighting needs. This section is intended to permit adequate illumination for such events, while minimizing sky-glow and reducing glare and lighting spillover onto surrounding streets and properties.
(1) Primary playing areas with the exception of residential accessory uses. Where playing fields or other recreational areas are to be illuminated, lighting fixtures shall be specified, mounted, and aimed so that their beams fall within the primary playing area. Direct illumination shall be confined to within the property lines of the recreational use. External shields may be required in order to reduce spillover light.
(3) Event hours. Under no circumstances shall any illumination of the playing field, court, or track be permitted after 11:00 p.m. except to conclude an event that was reasonably scheduled to conclude prior to 11:00 p.m. All newly lighted fields, or existing fields being upgraded or refitted (public or private) shall be equipped with override timing devices which will automatically cut off the lights to ensure curfew compliance.
(B) Outdoor lighting of buildings, parking lots, loading areas, sales areas, display areas, aprons/canopies, landscaping, signs, flags, statues, and other objects. The following lighting requirements apply to single-family attached, multifamily, educational, institutional, commercial recreation, public, commercial business and retail, motor vehicle related, wholesaling, and industrial uses identified in this chapter.
(1) Lighting of the aforementioned uses shall consist of fully cut-off or directionally shielded lighting fixtures that are aimed and controlled so that the directed light is confined to the object intended to be illuminated.
(2) Directional control shields shall be used where necessary to limit stray light.
(3) No light from any illuminated sign shall cause or direct non-reflected light from the fixture to shine onto any adjoining property or public right-of-way.
(4) Lighting for all parking, display, and loading areas shall not exceed an average horizontal illumination level of two and one-half foot-candles. All lighting fixtures serving these areas shall be fully cut-off fixtures.
(5) Maximum mounting height is 20 feet for residential uses and 25 feet for nonresidential uses. Height is measured from the ground surface to the bottom of the lighting fixture. (See Figure 3 in § 157.288.)
(6) The lighting fixture bulbs in aprons and canopies shall be recessed into a canopy ceiling so that the bottom of the fixture is flush with the ceiling so that light is restrained to no more than 85 degrees from vertical.
(a) As an alternative to recessed ceiling lights, indirect lighting may be used where the light is directed upward and then reflected down from the underside of the canopy. In this case, light fixtures shall be shielded so that direct illumination is focused exclusively on the underside of the canopy.
(b) Lights shall not be mounted on the top or sides (facial) of the canopy and the sides of the canopy shall not be illuminated.
(7) The lighting for pump islands and under canopies shall have a minimum of one foot-candle at grade, and the average horizontal illumination cannot exceed ten foot-candles at grade level, subject to a uniformity ratio (ratio of average to minimum illuminance) no greater than four to one. The standards herein are based on the Illuminating Engineering Society of America (IESNA) RP-33, Lighting for Exterior Environments.
(8) Lamps shall not exceed 400 watts.
(C) Outdoor fixtures for single-family detached residential structures. Outdoor fixtures for single-family detached residential structures shall be limited to lamps with a maximum of 180 watts per fixture and shall be installed so that light does not spill onto an adjoining property.
(1998 Code, § 66-352) (Ord. passed 9-5-2017) Penalty, see § 10.99
§ 157.288 SITE PLAN REQUIREMENTS.
(A) Application requirements.
(1) Any person applying for a site plan in accordance with Chapter 155 of this code or applying for a building, electrical, or sign permit to install outdoor lighting fixtures shall, as a part of said application, submit evidence that the proposed work will comply with this subchapter.
(2) The lighting plan application shall include the following:
(a) A site plan drawn to scale showing building(s), landscaping, parking areas, and proposed exterior lighting fixtures;
(b) Location of all post, canopy, supports, and light fixtures, including the height of each fixture, relative to the buildings, structures, parking, and display and loading areas;
(c) Specifications of the illuminating devices, lamps, supports, and other devices including designation as Illuminating Engineering Society of North America (IESNA) “cut-off” fixtures. This description may include, but is not limited to, manufacturers catalog cuts, and drawings including sections where required; and
(d) A photometric plan indicating the minimum and maximum foot-candle levels within the lighted area of the site. Such plan shall show locations of all pole mounted and building mounted fixtures and a numerical 25 foot by 25 foot grid of lighting levels, in foot-candles, that the fixtures will produce on the ground. (See Figure 4 below.)
(3) The required plans and descriptions shall be sufficiently complete to enable the Planning Commission, Zoning Administrator, Building Official, or their designee to readily determine compliance with the requirements of this subchapter. If such plans and descriptions cannot enable this ready determination by reason of the nature or configuration of the devices, fixtures, or lamps proposed, the applicant shall submit evidence of compliance by test reports performed by a testing lab certifying that the tests were conducted according to the standards of the Illuminating Engineering Society of North America (IESNA).
(B) Conformance with this subchapter.
(1) Prior to issuance of a building, electrical, or sign permit, the Zoning Administrator or designee shall determine that the submitted plans and details for said permit are in conformance with this subchapter.
(2) The stamping of the plans and the signature of the Building Official or designated representative and the date of the signature shall indicate that the plans are in conformance.
(C) Changes after approval. Should the applicant desire to substitute outdoor light fixtures or lamps to be installed on private property after a lighting plan has been approved, the applicant shall submit said changes to the Zoning Administrator or designee for approval, with adequate information to assure compliance with this subchapter.
(D) Special requirements for public or private outdoor recreational facilities.
(1) For each athletic field or complex to be illuminated, a lighting plan shall be submitted detailing the property lighting installation. The plan shall include the lighting requirements for each sports field, the lighting specifications, and technical measures showing how those requirements will be achieved. Special tree planting and/or buffering to assist in light control and protection of adjacent properties and roadways may be required.
(2) All applications for lighted outdoor recreational facilities shall include an accurate photometric plan in conjunction with a site plan for the proposed field and associated facilities.
Figure 1: Full Cut-off Lighting Fixture
Source: Fairfax County, Virginia Zoning Ordiance - Appendix 2 (Illustrations)
Figure 2: Full Cut-Off Light Fixtures
Figure 3: Mounting Height
Source: Fairfax County, Virginia Zoning Ordinance - Appendix 2 (Illustrations)
Figure 4: Photometric Plan
Source: Hubbell Outdoor Lighting
(1998 Code, § 66-353) (Ord. passed 9-5-2017)