The purpose of this chapter is to provide regulations that help conserve energy and resources and protect wildlife; promote health, safety, security, and productivity; and preserve the night-time environment. The provisions of this chapter are intended to minimize adverse offsite impacts including light pollution, light trespass, glare and night glow. It is the intent of this chapter to provide standards for appropriate lighting practices and systems that will permit reasonable amounts of exterior lighting for night-time safety, utility, security, productivity, enjoyment and commerce.

(Ord. No. 1132, § 2(Exh. A), 7-11-2013)

See Chapter 18.100, Definitions, "Lighting" for definitions of the terms and concepts used in this chapter.

(Ord. No. 1132, § 2(Exh. A), 7-11-2013)

A.

All exterior lighting fixtures installed on private and public property following the effective date of this chapter shall comply with this chapter. This chapter does not apply to interior lighting; provided, that if it is determined by the planning director that any interior lighting emitting light outside of the building or structure in which it is located creates a light trespass, the interior lighting shall be subject to the requirements of this chapter. Types of exterior lighting to which this chapter applies include, but are not limited to lighting for:

1.

Building and structures including, but not limited to, overhangs and canopies.

2.

Recreational areas.

3.

Parking lot lighting.

4.

Landscape lighting.

5.

Lighting on docks and piers.

6.

Street lighting.

B.

In the event of a conflict between the requirements of this chapter and any other requirement of the Ridgefield Municipal Code, the more restrictive requirement shall apply.

(Ord. No. 1132, § 2(Exh. A), 7-11-2013)

A.

The following types of lighting are exempt from the provisions of this chapter:

1.

Traffic control signals and devices.

2.

Street lights installed prior to the effective date of this chapter, provided that when a street light fixture becomes inoperable, any replacement street light fixture shall be subject to the provisions of this chapter. All street lights shall also comply with Section 2.26, Street Illumination, of the city's engineering standards for public works construction.

3.

Temporary emergency lighting (i.e., fire, police, repair workers) or warning lights.

4.

Moving vehicle lights.

5.

Navigation lights (i.e., radio/television towers, docks, piers, buoys) or any other lights where state or federal statute or other provision of the Ridgefield Municipal Code requires lighting that cannot comply with this chapter. In such situations, lighting shall be shielded to the maximum extent possible, and lumens shall be minimized to the maximum extent possible, while still complying with state or federal statute.

6.

Seasonal decorations do not have to be shielded, provided that they do not have a brightness of more than 0.1 foot-candles at the property line on which they are installed.

7.

Exterior lighting approved by the planning director for temporary or periodic events (e.g. fairs, nighttime construction).

8.

Internally and externally illuminated signs regulated by RDC 18.710.

9.

Fossil fuel lights.

(Ord. No. 1132, § 2(Exh. A), 7-11-2013)

The following general standards shall apply to all non-exempt exterior lighting fixtures and accent lighting:

A.

All light trespass is prohibited. All exterior lighting fixtures and accent lighting shall be designed, installed, located and maintained such that there is no light trespass (see Figure 3 in 18.715.100).

B.

Exterior lighting fixtures and accent lighting must be shielded and aimed downward. Examples of acceptable and unacceptable light pollution control shielding are shown in Figures 1 through 4 in 18.715.100. The shield must mask the direct horizontal surface of the light source. The light must be aimed to insure that the illumination is only pointing downward onto the ground surface, with no escaping direct light permitted to contribute to light pollution by shining upward into the sky.

C.

Exterior lighting fixtures and accent lighting shall not directly illuminate public waterways such as Lake River, even if the shorelines are privately owned, unless it is a navigational light subject to state or federal regulations.

D.

Accent lighting shall be directed downward onto the illuminated object or area and not toward the sky or onto adjacent properties (see Figure 4 in 18.715.100). Direct light emissions of such accent lighting shall not be visible above the roof line or beyond the building, structure, or object edge.

E.

Spotlighting on landscaping and foliage shall be limited to one hundred fifty watts incandescent (two thousand two hundred twenty lumens output).

F.

Wattage. No lighting fixture installed on the exterior of a new residential building shall exceed two hundred fifty watts or fluorescent or LED equivalent. No lighting fixture installed on the exterior of a new non-residential building shall exceed four hundred watts or fluorescent or LED equivalent.

G.

Lighting After Business Hours. Non-residential uses are strongly encouraged to reduce nighttime light levels to only the level necessary for security purposes.

H.

Street Lighting. All street lights installed after the effective date of this chapter shall be LED light fixtures and comply with all terms of this chapter, as well as the city engineering standards for public works construction.

(Ord. No. 1132, § 2(Exh. A), 7-11-2013; Ord. No. 1178, § 2(Exh. A), 2-12-2015; Ord. No. 1253, § 2(Exh. A), 12-7-2017)

A.

The following fixtures (luminaires) are prohibited:

1.

Searchlights for any other purpose other than temporary emergency lighting.

2.

Laser lights or any similar high-intensity light for exterior use or entertainment, when projected above the horizontal plane.

3.

Strobe lights visible from another property.

4.

Quartz lamps.

5.

Mercury vapor lamps.

B.

Red decorative lights, other than those exempted in RDC 18.715.040, are prohibited.

C.

The city reserves the right to further restrict exterior lighting including, but not limited to, pole height, and level of illumination, when it is deemed to be in the best public interest consistent with the purpose of this chapter.

(Ord. No. 1132, § 2(Exh. A), 7-11-2013)

A.

All site plan applications for development including the installation of exterior lighting fixtures shall demonstrate compliance with the requirements of this Chapter. For Type I applications, applicants may elect to submit, and the planning director retains the authority to request, any of the components listed in RDC 18.715.070.A.(1) to (6) to demonstrate compliance with this chapter. Submittal requirements for all Type II or higher applications shall include all the following components:

1.

The location of every outdoor lighting fixture, their aiming angle and mounting heights.

2.

A description of every outdoor light fixture including specifications such as lamps, optics, cutoff angle, supports, poles and manufacturer's catalog cuts for each type.

3.

A schedule of the hours of operation and provisions for reducing on-site lighting during nonoperating hours to the levels necessary for security purposes.

4.

Maintained horizontal illuminance, in foot-candles (after depreciation) including the following:

a.

Maximum;

b.

Minimum; and

c.

Average during operating and nonoperating hours.

5.

A computer generated photometric grid showing the light distribution pattern in foot-candle readings across the site and at the property line, at ten-foot intervals.

B.

All building permit applications including the installation of exterior lighting fixtures shall demonstrate compliance with the requirements of this chapter.

(Ord. No. 1132, § 2(Exh. A), 7-11-2013; Ord. No. 1370, § 2(Exh. A), 9-8-2022)

Any violation of the provisions of this chapter shall constitute a civil offense, enforceable pursuant to Chapter 18.95 and RMC Title 20.

(Ord. No. 1132, § 2(Exh. A), 7-11-2013; Ord. No. 1416, § 1(Att.), 2-22-2024)

If any clause, sentence, paragraph, section or part of this chapter or the application thereof to any person or circumstances shall be adjudged by any court of competent jurisdiction to be invalid, such order or judgment shall be confined in its operation to the controversy in which it was rendered and shall not affect or invalidate the remainder of any part thereof to any other person or circumstances.

(Ord. No. 1132, § 2(Exh. A), 7-11-2013)

The following four figures illustrate acceptable and unacceptable exterior lighting fixtures in the city.

Figure 1: Wall Mounted Lights

Figure 2: Freestanding Exterior Lighting Fixtures

Figure 3: Exterior Lighting Fixtures—Street and Lot Light Cut-Off at Property Line

Figure 4: Accent Lighting

(Ord. No. 1132, § 2(Exh. A), 7-11-2013)