Plymouth City Zoning Code
CHAPTER 19
80 LIGHTING
§ 19.80.010 Purpose.
The purpose of this chapter is to regulate lighting to balance the safety and security needs for lighting with the City's desire to ensure that light trespass and glare have negligible impact on surrounding properties (especially residential) and roadways.
(Ord. 2014-01 § 1)
§ 19.80.020 Applicability.
The requirements of this chapter apply to all new development. Whenever a person is required to obtain a Building Permit, Electrical Permit, and/or approval of a Planning Entitlement, the applicant shall submit sufficient information for the approving authority to determine whether the proposed lighting will comply with the requirements of this chapter.
(Ord. 2014-01 § 1)
§ 19.80.030 Exempt Lighting.
The following items shall be exempt from the requirements of this chapter:
A.
Temporary lights used for holiday decorations.
B.
Emergency lighting erected for official purposes by local, State, or Federal agencies.
C.
Lighting for temporary uses and special events permitted consistent with this Code.
(Ord. 2014-01 § 1)
§ 19.80.040 Prohibited Lighting.
The following types of lighting are prohibited:
A.
Neon tubing or band lighting (including LCD, LED, and other technologies) along buildings and/or structures as articulation, except as approved through Minor Design Review.
B.
Search lights, laser source lights, or any similar high-intensity light, except for emergency use by police or fire personnel at their discretion, or for approved temporary lighting for a special event approved through the administrative review process.
C.
Lighting fixtures operated in such a manner as to constitute a hazard or danger to persons or to safe vehicular travel.
D.
Illumination of entire buildings.
E.
Roof-mounted lighting except for security purposes.
F.
Moving, flashing, or animated lighting.
(Ord. 2014-01 § 1)
§ 19.80.050 General Lighting Requirements.
The requirements listed below shall apply to all outdoor lighting.
A.
Maintenance. Fixtures and lighting shall be maintained in good working order and in a manner that serves the original design intent.
B.
Nuisance Prevention and Shielding. All outdoor lighting shall be designed, located, installed, directed downward or toward structures, fully shielded, and maintained in order to prevent glare, light trespass, and light pollution. All outdoor lighting shall be recessed and/or constructed with full downward shielding in order to reduce light and glare impacts on trespass to adjoining properties and public rights-of-way. Each fixture shall be directed downward and away from adjoining properties and public rights-of-way, so that no light fixture directly illuminates an area outside of the project site intended to be illuminated.
C.
Height. The maximum height of light poles on private property shall be:
1.
Twenty-four feet for all nonresidential districts.
2.
Eighteen feet for all residential districts and within 100 feet of a Residential Zoning District.
3.
Ten feet for pedestrian-oriented lighting along sidewalks and pedestrian pathways.
4.
Exceptions to the height limits shall be considered by the Planning Commission for athletic fields and other unique circumstances where additional height is required.
D.
Level of Illumination. Outdoor lighting shall be designed to illuminate at the minimum level necessary for safety and security and to avoid harsh contrasts in lighting levels between the project site and adjacent properties. Illumination requirements are provided in Table 19.80.050-1 (Illumination Requirements). For reference purposes, a level equivalent to the moon's potential ambient illumination is 0.01 foot-candle and is considered adequate for minimal nighttime visibility.
TABLE 19.80.050-1 ILLUMINATION REQUIREMENTS | |||
|---|---|---|---|
Category | Where Measured | Required Illumination | Notes |
Public, civic, and religious uses, and sports fields and other outdoor recreation areas | Permitted to be fully illuminated during hours of operation. After hours, shall be dimmed or turned off such that only lighting essential to security or safety shall be maintained | Lighting fixtures shall be mounted, aimed, and shielded so that the light falls within the primary playing area and no significant off-site light trespass is produced | |
Parking lots, driveways, transit facilities, trash enclosures, public phones, group mailboxes | Within 2-foot radius of object edge | 1.0 foot-candle (minimum) 5.0 foot-candle (maximum) | During non-daylight hours |
Parking lots for banks, convenience stores, check cashing businesses | At point of highest and lowest light level | 1.5 foot-candle (minimum) 4.0 foot-candle (maximum) | During operating hours |
Pedestrian walkways | Center of walkway at point of highest and lowest light level | 0.5 foot-candle (minimum) 2.0 foot-candle (maximum) | Only applies to walkways intended for use after dark |
Nonresidential structures, entryways, and doors—on site | 5-foot radius of door (each side) | 1.0 foot-candle (minimum) | During non-daylight hours |
Nonresidential structures, entryways and doors—off site | 15 feet beyond the site boundary | 0.01 foot-candle (maximum) | During non-daylight hours |
Adjacent residential property | At structure and rear setback line | 0.01 foot-candle (maximum) | |
E.
Hours. Exterior lighting shall be automatically controlled from dusk to dawn to turn off or lower light levels during inactive periods.
G.
Illuminated Locations. Outdoor lighting shall be provided to adequately illuminate all entrances, alcoves, walkways, parking, loading, shipping, and receiving areas, and any changes in grade level along exterior pathways.
H.
Energy-Efficient Fixtures Required. Outdoor lighting shall utilize energy-efficient fixtures and lamps such as sodium (high-pressure or low pressure), metal halide, light-emitting diode (LED), hard-wired compact fluorescent, or other lighting technology that is of equal or greater efficiency. All new outdoor lighting fixtures shall be energy efficient with a rated average bulb life of not less than 10,000 hours.
I.
Accent Lighting. Architectural features may be illuminated by uplighting, provided that the lamps are low intensity to produce a subtle lighting effect and no glare or light trespass is produced. Wherever feasible, solar-powered fixtures should be used.
J.
Security Lighting. All multiple-family residential complexes shall provide security lighting as approved by the City, through the Plan Check process.
(Ord. 2014-01 § 1)