Effective outdoor lighting enhances the City of Rexburg’s character and identity, promotes a pleasant and soft ambiance, protects astronomical observations, and provides safety and security for persons and property. Excessive light or light pollution, can be annoying, cause safety problems, and reduce privacy. In order to effectively regulate these activities, communities are empowered to establish regulations and standards for all outdoor lighting.

1. Objectives
   1. To preserve, protect, and enhance the natural beauty of the “Night Sky”.
   2. To encourage and promote the conservation of energy resources.
   3. To promote safety and security for persons and property, drivers and pedestrians.
   4. To maintain and enhance property values.
   5. To adopt clear standards for all outdoor lighting and to inform the public of those standards.
   6. To eliminate light trespass onto abutting properties.
   7. To promote appropriate business.
   8. To enhance community identity.

This section shall apply to all new lighting that is installed within the jurisdiction of this development code. The provisions of this section shall be considered as minimum requirements. Any requirement, statute, ordinance, covenant, or other regulation, placing a greater restriction shall prevail.

The following terms are defined in Chapter 2: Area Light Foot Candle Downlighting Flood Light Foot-candle (fc) Fully shielded Height (of Light) Holiday Lighting Illuminance Lamp Lighting Plan

1. Full Cutoff Type Luminaires. All exterior luminaires shall be of the full cutoff type unless otherwise noted in this section.
2. Light Trespass. All luminaires, including security lighting, shall be aimed and shielded so that the direct illumination shall not trespass more than 0.2 foot candles beyond the property boundaries.
3. Lighting of Flags. The lighting of Federal or State flags shall be permitted. The external beam shall minimize light trespass and/or glare.
4. Canopy Lighting. Canopy lighting shall be flush with the under surface of the canopy.
5. Conformance with Applicable Codes. All outdoor, electrically-powered, illuminating devices shall be installed in conformance with the provisions of this Section, currently adopted Building and Electrical Codes and Sign Ordinance, along with appropriate permits and inspections.
6. Roadway/Streetlights. All roadway/streetlights shall be installed at the discretion of the Director of Public Works and shall conform to the appropriate ordinance.
7. Parking Lots. Parking lot lighting shall comply with all other requirements of this section.
8. Recreation Areas.
   1. Turn On. In no case shall recreational lighting occur before 7:00 A.M.
   2. Turn Off.
      1. All recreational lighting shall be turned off within thirty (30) minutes of the completion of the last game, practice, or event.
      2. In no case shall recreational lighting occur after 10:00 P.M. except to conclude a specific sporting or similar event that is underway. (See Noise Resolution for similar times)
9. Signs. Signs, including directional, project entrance; free standing, building, and monument signs shall comply with the requirements of section 3.5: Signs and the following:
   1. Shielded. All luminaires shall be aimed and shielded so that light is directed only onto the sign facade not to cause a nuisance or complaints.
   2. Signs in Residential Zones. Signs that abut residential zones shall be designed, placed, and landscaped in such a manner so that the lighting does not trespass onto residential properties and cause complaints. The luminaire shall be confined to the surface of the sign.
10. Exempt Lighting. The following lighting shall be exempt from the provisions of this section:
    1. Holiday lighting from November 1 to January 15.
    2. Traffic control signals and devices.
    3. Temporary emergency lighting in use by law enforcement or governmental agencies at their direction.
    4. Temporary lighting, used for a period not to exceed thirty (30) days in any twelve (12) month period for construction, festivals, celebrations, and other public activities so as not to cause a nuisance or complaint.
    5. Residential luminaires with an output equivalent to a sixty (60) watt incandescent lamp regardless of the number of lamps.
    6. Sensor activated luminaires, provided:
       1. It is located in such a manner as to prevent light trespass onto other properties or into a public right-of-way resulting in complaints.
       2. The luminaire is set to go on only when activated and to go off within five (5) minutes after activation has ceased. This type of lighting is only intended for very low pedestrian traffic areas and only to increase the perception of safety.
       3. The luminaire shall not be triggered by activity off the property.

The following lighting shall be prohibited except as provided in subsection 3.6.040.J.

1. Unshielded Luminaires. Unshielded luminaires for any purpose is prohibited except strictly for the purpose of decorative luminaires such as Bistro style luminaires.
2. Flashing, Blinking, Intermittent Lights. Flashing, blinking, intermittent lights or other lights that move or give the impression of movement are prohibited as determined by the Zoning Administrator. This does not include readerboard-type signs.

Lighting that does not conform to this section but existed at the time of adoption of this section.

1. Abatement Required. Nonconforming luminaires shall be brought into compliance, unless otherwise exempted by this section, pursuant to the abatement schedule contained in this section.
2. Schedule of Abatement. All legally existing, nonconforming outdoor lighting shall be brought into compliance by the property owner as follows:
   1. As a condition for approval upon application for a building permit, sign permit, conditional use permit, or similar City of Rexburg permit.
   2. All damaged or inoperative lighting shall be replaced or repaired with lighting equipment and luminaires that comply with this section.

1. Lighting Plans Required. All commercial building plans, commercial externally illuminated sign permit applications, conditional use permits, and subdivision applications shall include a detailed lighting plan that indicates evidence that the proposed lighting fixtures and light sources comply with this section.
   1. Lighting Plans shall include the following:
      1. Plans or drawings indicating the proposed location, height, and type of luminaires, along with installation and electrical details.
      2. Illustrations, such as those contained in a manufacturer’s catalog, of all proposed luminaires.
      3. Photometric data, such as that furnished by manufacturers, showing illumination levels in foot candles as it lays out on site and extending to twenty (20’) feet beyond the property boundary.

1. Small Scale Applications. Lighting plans for developments of one (1) acre or less shall be approved by the City of Rexburg’s Director of Public Works or designee.
2. New Development. New development applications shall include a detailed lighting plan that will be approved as part of the development approval in compliance with the City of Rexburg’s Subdivision Ordinance, the conditional use permit, or the building permit.
3. Compliance with this Section. All lighting approvals shall be granted only in compliance with this section.
4. Suspension, revocation, or modifications to the Lighting Plan. The Director of Public Works or Building Official may suspend, revoke, or require modification of any lighting plan that is not in compliance with this section.
5. Lamp or Luminaire Substitution. If any outdoor luminaire or the type of light source therein is proposed to be changed after a lighting plan has been approved, a change request must be submitted to the Director of Public Works or Building Official for approval. Adequate information to assure compliance with all codes must be provided and the change request must be received and approved prior to substitution.

The applicant or any person aggrieved by a final decision, determination, or requirement imposed regarding this section may appeal according to the provisions set forth by the City of Rexburg’s Development Code.

Illumination shall not be a nuisance to abutting properties causing complaints. Complaints received due to nuisance illumination shall be determined by the Planning and Zoning Committee, Director of Public Works, Building Official, or City of Rexburg Designee.

The City of Rexburg’s Planning and Zoning Commission, Director of Public Works, and Building Official, or City of Rexburg designee are authorized to enforce this Section, and shall enforce all provisions.