Building façade lighting means the lighting of a building façade for architectural, aesthetic, or decorative purposes.

Footcandles means one (1) lumen per square foot of site area. Primary measurement of illumination in the Town of Severance.

Fully shielded fixture means a fixture with a solid barrier (cap) at the top of the fixture in which the lamp (bulb) is located. The fixture is angled so the lamp is not visible below the barrier (i.e., no light visible below the horizontal angle).

Light trespass means light that illuminates surfaces or that is visible beyond the property line of any lot.

Lumen means the unit of light measurement. Used in the Town of Severance for lighting that does not illuminate a surface (i.e., light that is projected upwards towards the sky).

Maximum uniformity ratio means the ratio of maximum-to-minimum illumination levels. This is calculated by dividing the maximum light level by the minimum light level.

Unshielded lighting means lighting that does not have a barrier preventing horizontal or vertical light trespass. Such lighting shall only be used in the Town of Severance for security purposes or as otherwise specified in code.

(Ord. No. 2022-30 §1)

The intent of this Article is to:

(1)

Provide adequate light for safety and security;

(2)

Promote efficient and cost-effective lighting to conserve energy;

(3)

Reduce light pollution, light trespass, glare, and offensive light sources;

(4)

Prevent inappropriate, poorly designed, or poorly installed outdoor lighting;

(5)

Encourage quality lighting design that is functional, aesthetically pleasing, and complementary to the architectural style of buildings; and

(6)

Require light fixture shielding, establish maximum uniformity ratios, and establish maximum light levels within and along property lines.

(Ord. No. 2022-30 §1)

Exterior lighting shall be evaluated as part of the development review process to ensure that the functional and security needs of the project are met in a way that does not adversely affect adjacent properties or neighborhoods. The degree to which exterior night lighting affects a property owner or neighborhood will be examined considering the light source, level of illumination, hours of illumination and need for illumination in relation to the effects of the lighting on the adjacent property owners and the neighborhood. All development projects requiring a site plan or building permit application shall provide a photometric plan to illustrate conformance with this Section.

(1)

Lighting plans required. A lighting plan shall be submitted with any site plan application or building permit application, whichever occurs first, in which outdoor lighting is proposed or required except for a single-family detached dwelling unit on an individual lot. The lighting plan shall meet all requirements specified in the lighting plan requirements form as maintained by the Community Development Department.

(2)

Final inspection and certification. Prior to a building permit final inspection or the issuance of a certificate of occupancy, the applicant shall provide certification that the outdoor lighting as installed complies with the approved illumination plan and the requirements of this Section unless waived or amended by the Town Manager in writing. The certification shall be submitted in a format prescribed by the Town Manager. The certification affidavit shall be completed by the owner, applicant, or their designee acknowledging the on-site lighting was installed and will be maintained subject to the approved lighting plan.

(Ord. No. 2022-30 §1)

(a)

LED light source required. Light-emitting diode (LED) light sources shall be required for all site plan and building permit applications. Outdoor lighting shall be LED "Dark Sky" compliant, per the International Dark Sky Association requirements for reducing light pollution and minimizing glare.

(b)

Use of high-pressure sodium lamps. Use of high-pressure sodium lamps is prohibited.

(c)

Architectural lighting of building façades. The lighting of a building façade for architectural, aesthetic, or decorative purposes is permitted subject to the following restrictions:

(1)

All upward aimed light shall be fully shielded, fully confined from projecting into the sky by eaves, roofs, or overhangs, and mounted as flush to a wall as possible.

(2)

Building façade lighting shall be fully shielded and mounted as flush to a wall as possible.

(3)

Building façade lighting shall not extend beyond the highest point of any structure.

(4)

Building façade lighting that is measurable at the ground level shall be included in the maximum allowable light levels.

(d)

Unshielded lighting.

(1)

Unshielded lighting that emits greater than twenty (20) footcandles but less than twenty-five (25) footcandles at any given location on a site is permitted if the fixture is activated by a motion sensor for security purposes only. All security lighting shall be aimed and located in such a manner as to prevent glare and light trespass. The light shall only turn on when activated and shall turn off within five (5) minutes of activation. Motion sensor activated lighting shall not be triggered by any movement or activity located off the property on which the light is located.

(2)

All lamps and bulbs located in residential zones shall be within a fully shielded fixture or must be within a light fixture where the bulb or lamp are obscured from view by a material that diffuses the light, (i.e., frosted or milk-colored materials), except as otherwise permitted in this Section. See Figure 01 of this Section.

Figure 01—Fully Shielded Light Fixture Examples

(e)

Signs. All exterior signs shall be required to meet the standards for this Section. In addition, all exterior signs are also subject to the requirements set forth in the sign code.

(f)

Standards for lights adjacent to residential zoning districts, residential uses, or public rights-of-way. Any light fixture located within ten (10) feet of a property line of a residential zoning district, an existing residential use, or within ten (10) feet of a public right-of-way, except as permitted in this Section of this Article shall be:

(1)

Oriented away from the property line, residential zone, residential use, and/or right-of-way; and

(2)

Shielded on the side closest to the property line, residential zone, residential use, or public right-of-way.

(g)

Canopy and awning lighting. Lighting fixtures mounted under canopies and awnings shall be aimed downward and installed such that the bottom of the light fixture or its lens, whichever is lower, is recessed or mounted flush with the bottom surface of the canopy. A full cutoff light fixture may project below the underside of a canopy. All light emitted by an under-canopy fixture shall be substantially confined to the ground surface directly beneath the perimeter of the canopy. No lighting, except that permitted by the sign ordinance, shall be permitted on the top or sides of a canopy.

(h)

Flagpoles. A flagpole meeting the requirements of the Land Use Code may be illuminated by one (1) upward aimed fully shielded spotlight light fixture which shall not exceed three thousand five hundred (3,500) lumens. The light fixture shall be placed as close to the base of the flagpole as reasonably possible.

(1)

Strings of lights. No person shall use a string of lights on property with nonresidential uses except as approved by the Town Manager.

(2)

Strings of lights may only be used if they are approved by the Town Manager or as part of an outdoor lighting plan or landscape plan. The plan must comply with all standards of this Article. The purpose of such lighting is intended to create pleasing pedestrian spaces, such as outdoor dining or patio areas, utilizing low lighting levels.

(3)

Strings of lights permitted under this subsection shall be displayed in compliance with the following standards:

a.

The string of lights contains only low wattage bulbs that are approved by the Town;

b.

The string of lights shall be located within a pedestrian way, plaza, patio, outdoor dining area, or the primary entry into a building;

c.

The string of lights is not placed in any required landscape setback adjacent to a street; and

d.

The string of lights shall be maintained and not obstruct pedestrian pathways or be detrimental to the health, safety, and welfare of the Town.

(i)

Parking lot lights and trees. Parking lot light fixtures and poles shall be located such that trees located within the parking lot do not obscure the operation of the light fixture.

(j)

Full cutoff fixtures. Full cutoff fixtures shall be installed and maintained in a horizontal position as designed.

(k)

Color temperature. All exterior lighting shall not exceed a correlated color temperature (CCT) of three thousand five hundred (3,500) degrees Kelvin.

(Ord. No. 2022-30 §1)

Maximum light levels at any point along a property line shall not exceed 0.1 footcandles within or adjacent to a residential zone or 0.2 footcandles within or adjacent to a nonresidential zone. Maximum light levels shall not exceed the thresholds established in Table 01 below.

Table 01—Lighting Level Requirements

(Ord. No. 2022-30 §1)

(a)

Light style. The style of lights shall be consistent with the style and character of architecture proposed on the site. Light fixtures that illuminate signage shall be compatible with the architecture of the building on which they are placed.

(b)

Prohibited light types. No person shall install any of the following types of outdoor lighting fixtures:

(1)

Mercury vapor lamps;

(2)

Blinking, flashing, moving, revolving, flickering, changing intensity, and chase lighting, except lighting for temporary seasonal displays, lighting for public safety or required for air traffic safety;

(3)

Any light fixture that may be confused with or construed as a traffic control device;

(4)

Any upward oriented lighting except as otherwise provided for in this Article;

(5)

Searchlights, beacons, and laser source light fixtures;

(6)

Exposed linear lamps that include, without limitation, light emitting diode (LED), and fluorescent lighting, primarily intended as an architectural highlight to attract attention or used as a means of identification or advertisement except as permitted by sign criteria of the land use code;

(7)

Any lamp or bulb, except for seasonal displays and landscape ornamental lighting, which is visible beyond the property line on which it is located; and

(8)

Any lamp or bulb with a correlated color temperature (CCT) that exceeds three thousand five hundred (3,500) degrees Kelvin unless otherwise stated by this Article.

(Ord. No. 2022-30 §1)

(a)

Exceptions. The standards of this Section shall not apply to the following types of exterior lighting:

(1)

Ornamental lighting. Low voltage (twelve (12) volts or less), low wattage ornamental landscape lighting fixtures, and solar operated light fixtures having self-contained rechargeable batteries.

(2)

Strings of light. Strings of lights located on properties in all residential zoning districts or on properties that are used exclusively for residential uses shall be exempt from the requirements of this Chapter.

(3)

Aviation lighting. Lighting used exclusively for aviation purposes. All heliport lighting, except lighting associated with emergency facilities, shall be turned off when the heliport is not in use.

(4)

Right-of-way lighting. Public lighting that is located within the right-of-way.

(5)

Seasonal lighting displays. Lighting commonly associated with outdoor displays celebrating holidays and seasons.

(6)

Because of their limited hours of operation and unique requirements for nighttime visibility, ball diamonds, playing fields, tennis courts and other similar outdoor recreational uses, both public and private, shall be exempt from the general provisions of this Article unless otherwise restricted by the Town. However, exterior lighting for such uses shall be extinguished no later than 11:00 p.m.

(Ord. No. 2022-30 §1)

Recommended references include the Illuminating Engineering Society of North America publications RP-8-00, RP-20-98 and RP-33-99.

(Ord. No. 2022-30 §1)