Revere City Zoning Code
CHAPTER 17
33 OUTDOOR LIGHTING
§ 17.33.010 Intent and purpose.
A.
To increase night sky visibility, improve nighttime vision and the color rendition of outdoor light, and reduce the impacts of outdoor lighting for people and wildlife.
B.
To conserve energy and reduce the consumption of electricity for lighting purposes.
C.
To reduce light pollution and glare from outdoor lighting fixtures and reduce excessive light levels as existing fixtures are replaced over time.
D.
To permit the use of outdoor lighting that does not exceed the minimum levels specified by recommended practices of the Illuminating Engineering Society (IES) for night-time safety, utility, security, productivity, enjoyment, and commerce.
E.
To minimize adverse impacts of lighting such as light trespass, obtrusive light spillover, and harmful glare.
F.
To curtail light pollution, reduce sky-glow, and improve the nighttime environment.
(C.O. 26-081, 7/13/2026)
§ 17.33.020 Definitions.
BUG rating system:
A simple lighting classification system (IES TM-15-20 standard or its successor) by the Illuminating Engineering Society (IES) and the DarkSky International to describe the light pollution contributions from outdoor Luminaires, including for street and parking lot lighting. Each letter is attached to a number ranging from 0 (ideal) to 5 (unacceptable). B describes backlight that often contributes to Light trespass. U describes uplight, which contributes to skyglow, which limits a person's ability to see the stars. G describes glare, which makes it difficult for people to see and thus makes roadways more dangerous and security lighting less effective.
Correlated color temperature (CCT):
A specification of the color appearance of the light emitted by a light source, measured in Kelvin (K). CCT values are typically provided in lighting manufacturer data sheets. For example, high pressure sodium streetlights are approximately 2,000 K and warm-white lamps are 2,700 K.
Environmentally sensitive area:
Sensitive uses include: all residential uses, any land subject to a conservation restriction, agricultural land or any land that contains threatened or endangered species habitats.
Foot-candle:
A measurement of light intensity. One foot-candle (fc) is defined as enough light to uniformly illuminate one square foot (1 ft2) with one lumen. Lux (lx) is the SI unit of illuminance; one foot-candle corresponds to 10.764 1x.
Fully shielded:
An outdoor luminaire constructed so that, in its installed position, all of the light emitted by the luminaire is projected below the horizontal plane that passes through the lowest light emitting part of the luminaire.
Glare:
Intense and blinding light emitted by a luminaire that reduces visibility and creates visual discomfort and/or momentary visual impairment.
IES:
Illuminating Engineering Society is a recognized authoritative body on the science and application of lighting that publishes and promotes recommended practices for a variety of specific lighting applications.
Illuminance:
Density of luminous flux (the rate of transfer of energy) incident on a surface, often measured on horizontal or vertical surfaces in foot-candles (fc or Lumens/ft2). Example, the full Moon casts 0.01 fc.
Lamp:
The bulb or other light-emitting portion of a luminaire, not inclusive of any reflective or refractive optics used to direct light.
Light Pollution:
an adverse and/or obtrusive effect of the use of outdoor light at night.
Light trespass:
Any light emitted by a luminaire that shines beyond the property on which the luminaire is installed and increases the Illuminance as measured at the lot line in foot-candles.
Lumen:
A unit of luminous flux; the flux emitted within a unit solid angle by a point source with a uniform luminous intensity of one candela (the SI unit of luminous intensity).
Luminaire:
A complete lighting assembly, consisting of a lamp/bulb, housing, optic(s), and other structural elements, but not including any mounting pole or surface.
Luminance:
The amount of light that passes through, is emitted, or reflected, from a particular area, and falls within a given solid angle. The SI (International System of Units) unit of luminance is candela per square meter (cd/m2), also known as a nit.
Nuisance:
The unreasonable, unwarranted and/or unlawful use of property, which causes inconvenience, disruption of enjoyment, or damage to others, either to individuals and/or to the general public.
Skyglow:
A measurable glow in the night sky deriving from an artificial source.
(C.O. 26-081, 7/13/2026)
§ 17.33.030 Applicability.
A.
New lighting. All exterior lighting installed after the effective date of this chapter shall be in conformance with the requirements established by this ordinance and any other applicable ordinances.
B.
Existing lighting. All outdoor luminaires that were lawfully installed prior to the effective date of this chapter, but that do not comply with the requirements of this ordinance, are declared to be non-conforming. All non-conforming luminaires may continue to be used and maintained after the adoption of this chapter.
C.
This chapter is applicable to all outdoor lighting fixtures, except for the following:
1.
Lighting within rights-of-way or easements for the principal purpose of illuminating streets, alleys, mid-block passages, civic spaces, athletic fields, or any lighting owned or operated by the City of Revere;
2.
Sign lighting (refer to Sections 17.08.745, 17.36.030, and 17.36.035 relative to digital and illuminated signage);
3.
Lighting for public monuments and statuary;
4.
Holiday lighting;
5.
Outdoor lighting used for emergency equipment and work conducted in the interest of law enforcement or for public health, safety, or welfare;
6.
Underwater lighting;
7.
Temporary lighting for theatrical, television, performance areas and construction sites; and
8.
Low voltage landscape lighting controlled by an automatic device that is set to turn the lights off at one hour after the site is closed to the public.
(C.O. 26-081, 7/13/2026)
§ 17.33.040 Requirements.
A.
Shielding. Unless exempted elsewhere in this chapter, all exterior luminaires with initial lumens exceeding 600 lumens shall be fully shielded.
B.
Light output.
1.
The output of any luminaire installed on a residential property shall not exceed 1,500 lumens. The output of any luminaire on a nonresidential property shall not exceed 5,000 lumens, except as otherwise permitted by this chapter.
2.
Illuminance on nonresidential properties shall not exceed the values recommended by the Illuminating Engineering Society (IES) for the specific application by more than 50% unless in the judgment of the Building Commissioner there are extenuating circumstances related to safety and security that justify an exception.
C.
Nuisance. No exterior luminaire shall create a lighting nuisance in the form of light trespass or glare, regardless of when it was installed.
1.
Light trespass. The maximum vertical illuminance at a property line that is adjacent to a residential property or to an environmentally sensitive area shall not exceed 0.05 foot-candle. For all other adjoining property, outdoor lighting must be designed or installed so that the illuminance at the property boundary line does not exceed 0.1 foot-candle. The measurement for compliance may be made by the Building Commissioner and vertical illuminance shall be measured at the property line measured five feet above grade with the meter aimed toward the subject property and perpendicular to the property line.
2.
Glare. Glare is declared to be a lighting nuisance when it constitutes a hazard to public safety along a public way or causes intense discomfort to occupants of adjacent properties. This determination will be made by the Building Commissioner through a site visit and a visual inspection.
D.
Correlated color temperature. The correlated color temperature (CCT), of the light emitted by the luminaires shall not exceed 2,700 K unless introduced as part of a facade or landscape lighting scheme used exclusively for the decorative illumination through color of certain building facade, or landscape features. If a luminaire with a CCT of 2,700K or lower is unavailable, then a luminaire with a CCT of 3,000K may be used.
E.
Outdoor accent lighting. Lighting of landscaping, monuments, plaques, flagpoles and similar installations are exempted from the shielding requirements in Section 17.33.040A, but shall be focused directly at the target so that the luminaire does not create a nuisance. Such lighting shall be designed and installed so that the luminaire points downward toward the target where possible, emits no more light than is necessary for the task, and is turned off or dimmed after astrological twilight or within one hour of the business or building's closing time, whichever occurs first, unless a safety or security need is demonstrated to the Building Commissioner.
1.
String lights. Also referred to as festoon lighting. Unless fully shielded, string lights shall have an output not exceeding 50 lumens per linear foot. Such lighting shall not exceed, in total, 2,000 lumens for residential properties and 4,000 lumens for nonresidential properties.
2.
Landscape lighting. Illumination of landscape features and building facades shall be limited to luminaires with output not exceeding 250 lumens and shall be installed and oriented so that their light output points directly toward the feature(s) to be illuminated. Such lighting shall not exceed, in total, 2,000 lumens for residential properties and 4,000 lumens for nonresidential properties.
3.
Flags. Any pole-mounted flag illuminated at night shall utilize no more than three spotlight luminaires per flagpole. Each of these luminaires shall be installed and oriented so that their light points directly toward the flag(s), incorporate optics to create the narrowest possible beam, and not exceed 600 lumens in output.
F.
Lighting plans. All applications for a building permit for construction that includes exterior lighting shall include lighting plans showing the location, mounting height, correlated color temperature (CCT), lumen output, BUG rating (if applicable), shielding description, and the quantity of all proposed luminaires. For non-residential property, said lighting plan must also include the proposed schedule of use, including use of timers, dimmers and/or motion-sensors. The applicant shall provide sufficient information to verify that lighting conforms to the provisions of this chapter. The Building Commissioner shall have the authority to request additional information in order to confirm compliance with the provisions of this ordinance.
(C.O. 26-081, 7/13/2026)
§ 17.33.050 Prohibitions.
The use of the following types of outdoor lighting is prohibited, except as specifically exempted in this chapter:
A.
Searchlights, sky beams, and similar lighting, except as required by public-safety personnel during emergency conditions.
B.
Any luminaire that intermittently fades, flashes, blinks, or rotates. This includes strobe lighting.
(C.O. 26-081, 7/13/2026)
§ 17.33.060 Enforcement.
A.
Administrative guidance. The Building Commissioner is authorized to promulgate one or more interpretive documents to aid in the administration and enforcement of this chapter. The owner of any lot or property on which a luminaire or sign subject to this chapter is located or proposed to be located shall have the burden of demonstrating that the existing or proposed luminaire or sign complies with the standards established by this chapter. The manufacturer's specification sheet may be used to establish the lumen level of a luminaire, CCT and, if required, to verify the use of fully shielded fixture design. Illumination levels may be verified through the use of manufacturer's photometric data sheet(s) and/or photometric site drawing or through on-site calibrated light meter light level readings. The owner of any lot or property on which a luminaire or sign subject to this Ordinance is located or proposed to be located shall have the burden of demonstrating that the proposed luminaire or sign complies with the standards established by this ordinance. A site visit at night by the Building Commissioner for purposes of a visual observation and/or photograph may be required to determine compliance.
B.
Violations. It shall be unlawful to install or operate any outdoor lighting Luminaire in violation of any provision of this ordinance. This ordinance may be enforced by the Building Commissioner. If the offending luminaire is powered off or rendered inactive within 24 hours, it is no longer considered a violation.
(C.O. 26-081, 7/13/2026)
