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Washington Terrace City Zoning Code

17.54 Outdoor

Lighting On Public-Private Prop

17.54.010 Purpose

The purpose of this chapter is to regulate outdoor lighting in order to reduce or prevent light pollution. This means to the extent reasonably possible the reduction or prevention of glare and light trespass, the conservation of energy, and promotion of safety and security.

HISTORY
Adopted by Ord. 05-02 on 4/5/2005
Adopted by Ord. 07-03 §2 on 2/6/2007

17.54.020 Definitions

As used in this chapter:

  1. "Lamp or bulb" means the light producing source installed in the socket portion of a luminaire.
  2. "Luminaire or fixture" means a complete lighting unit including the lamps or bulbs, together with the parts required to distribute the light, to position and protect the lamps, and to connect the lamps to the power supply.
  3. "Light pollution" means general sky glow caused by the scattering of artificial light in the atmosphere and resulting in decreased ability to see the natural night sky.
  4. "Glare" means the brightness of a light source that causes eye discomfort.
  5. "Disabling glare" means lighting that impairs visibility and creates a potentially hazardous situation for either pedestrians or motorists.
  6. "Nuisance glare" means light that creates an annoyance or aggravation but does not create a potentially hazardous situation.
  7. "Light trespass" means light emitted by a luminaire that shines beyond the property on which the luminaire is installed.
  8. "Shielding" means that no light rays are emitted by a fixture above the horizontal plane running through the lowest point of the fixture where light is emitted.
  9. "Accent lighting" means any directional lighting which emphasizes a particular object or draws attention to a particular area.
  10. "Spotlight or floodlight" means any lamp that incorporates a reflector or a refractor to concentrate the light output into a directed beam in a particular direction.
HISTORY
Adopted by Ord. 05-02 on 4/5/2005
Adopted by Ord. 07-03 §2 on 2/6/2007

17.54.030 Applicability

  1. All outdoor lighting fixtures installed on private and public property after the effective date hereof shall comply. This chapter does not apply to interior lighting. However, overly bright inside light emitted outdoors from any structure will be subject to control by this chapter if it is determined by the city building official that it creates a "nuisance glare" or a "disabling glare" as defined by this chapter.
  2. All outdoor lighting fixtures existing and legally installed and operative before the effective date hereof are exempt from these requirements unless they are determined to create a "nuisance glare" or a "disabling glare" as defined by this chapter. When existing lighting fixtures become inoperable, their replacements are subject to all the provisions of this chapter.
  3. When an existing fixture is replaced, the replacement fixture shall meet the requirements of this chapter. Modifications to nonconforming fixtures shall also comply with this chapter.
  4. Compliance with this chapter shall be administered by the Washington Terrace City building official/planning department.
  5. In the event of a conflict with any other provision and this chapter, the more stringent requirement shall apply.
  6. All governmental agencies, federal, state or county, including their security facilities, which operate within the city limits of Washington Terrace, should experience no difficulty meeting the requirements of this chapter and are encouraged by the city to comply with its provisions.
HISTORY
Adopted by Ord. 07-03 §2 on 2/6/2007

17.54.040 Exemptions

The following are exempt from the provisions of this chapter:

  1. Traffic control signals and devices.
  2. Streetlights installed prior to the effective date hereof.
  3. Temporary emergency lighting (i.e., fire, police, repair workers).
  4. Moving vehicle lights.
  5. Navigation lights (i.e., airports, heliports, radio/television towers).
  6. Lighted signs that conform with the city's sign ordinance.
  7. Seasonal decorations with individual lights in place.
  8. Sports field outdoor lighting (i.e., ball fields, football, soccer, ice rink, etc.).
  9. Other special situations approved by the city for temporary or periodic events (i.e., rodeos, revivals, fairs, fiestas, carnivals, nighttime construction).
  10. Covered porch lighting on single-family or multi-family homes provided that each outdoor light fixture does not exceed one hundred fifty (150) watts (2,220 lumens output).
  11. Security lights of any wattage that are controlled by a motion sensor switch and which do not remain on longer than ten (10) to twelve (12) minutes after activation.
  12. National, state, and local flags and flagpoles, so long as the lighting is directed so that it does not directly or unreasonably penetrate any adjoining property.
HISTORY
Adopted by Ord. 05-02 on 4/5/2005
Adopted by Ord. 07-03 §§2,3 on 2/6/2007

17.54.050 Submittals

  1. Applications for building permits or applications for review by the planning commission/city council, which includes the installation of outdoor lighting fixtures for new construction, shall provide evidence of compliance with the requirements of this chapter. The submittal shall contain the following information and shall be submitted as part of the site plan to the planning department:
    1. Plans indicating the location, type, and height of luminaires including both building and ground mounted fixtures;
    2. A description of the luminaires, including lamps, poles or other supports and shielding devices, which may be provided as catalog illustrations from the manufacturer;
    3. Photometric data, such as that furnished by the manufacturer, showing the angle of light emission; and
    4. Additional information as may be required by the planning department in order to determine compliance with this chapter.
  2. Applications for single- and multi-family residential or other projects where any single outdoor light fixture not used for landscaping or foliage illumination exceeds one hundred fifty (150) watts (2,220 lumens output) shall be required to comply with subsection A of this section. (See subsection 17.54.060H of this chapter for landscaping and foliage illumination.)
HISTORY
Adopted by Ord. 05-02 on 4/5/2005
Adopted by Ord. 07-03 §2 on 2/6/2007

17.54.060 General Standards

The following general standards shall apply to all outdoor lighting installed, which is not exempted above:

  1. Outdoor lighting must be hooded, shielded, and/or aimed downward. Examples of acceptable and unacceptable light pollution control shielding and hooding are shown in section 17.54.070, tables 1, 2, 3 and 4 of this chapter.
  2. The hood or shield must mask the direct horizontal surface of the light source. The light must be aimed to ensure that the illumination is only pointing downward onto the ground surface, with no escaping light permitted to contribute to sky glow by shining upward into the sky.
  3. Any bright light shining onto adjacent property or streets which would result in a nuisance glare or a disabling glare shall not be permitted. Light trespass beyond property boundaries or above the horizontal plane shall be considered noncompliant.
  4. Existing fixtures may be adapted to comply with this chapter by adding a properly designed hood or shield, or by pointing any upward mounted, shielded fixture downward onto the ground surface.
  5. All outdoor lighting fixtures shall be designed, installed, located and maintained such that nuisance glare onto adjacent properties or streets shall be minimized and all direct illumination kept within the boundaries of the fixture owner's property.
  6. This chapter may be enforced on the basis of a formal complaint filed in writing with the planning department.
  7. Accent lighting, when so approved, shall be directed downward onto the building or object and not toward the sky or onto adjacent properties. Direct light emissions shall not be visible above the roofline or beyond the building edge.
  8. Spotlighting on landscaping and foliage shall be limited to one hundred fifty (150) watts (2,220 lumens output). The lamp shall be shielded and not create disabling or nuisance glare.
  9. Lighting within side yards shall not illuminate past the property line, and shall not illuminate over the adjacent property line.
HISTORY
Adopted by Ord. 05-02 on 4/5/2005
Adopted by Ord. 07-03 §2 on 2/6/2007

17.54.070 Acceptable Shielding, Hooding And Aiming Of Outdoor Light Fixtures

The following tables of schematics show what is acceptable and what is unacceptable in the city of Washington Terrace:
Table 1, "Wall Mounted Lights".
Table 2, "Freestanding Lights".
Table 3, "Off Wall, Building, Foliage, Sign And Escarpment Lights".
Table 4, "Street And Lot Light Cutoff At Property Line".

HISTORY
Adopted by Ord. 05-02 on 4/5/2005
Adopted by Ord. 07-03 §2 on 2/6/2007

17.54.080 Further Restrictions

The city reserves the right to further restrict outdoor lighting, including, but not limited to, searchlights for special events, quartz lighting, laser lights, pole height, and level of illumination, when it is deemed to be in the best public interest in keeping with the stated purpose of this chapter.

HISTORY
Adopted by Ord. 05-02 on 4/5/2005
Adopted by Ord. 07-02 §2 on 1/16/2007

17.54.090 Penalties For Violation

  1. Any violation of the provisions of this chapter shall constitute a class C misdemeanor, and upon conviction thereof, shall be punishable by a fine or imprisonment, or both as set by the court of Washington Terrace City.
  2. Each twenty four (24) hour period during any portion of which any violation of this chapter is committed or continues to exist shall constitute a separate offense.
HISTORY
Adopted by Ord. 05-02 on 4/5/2005
Adopted by Ord. 07-03 §2 on 2/6/2007

17.54.100 Severability

The provisions of this chapter are severable and if any paragraph, section, subsection, or part of this chapter is held to be invalid, unenforceable, unconstitutional, or inapplicable to any person or circumstance, such illegality, invalidity, unconstitutionality, or inapplicability shall not affect or impair the remainder of this chapter.

HISTORY
Adopted by Ord. 05-02 on 4/5/2005
Adopted by Ord. 07-03 §2 on 2/6/2007

17.54.110 Effective Date

The provisions of this chapter shall become effective five (5) days after published unless otherwise provided by law.

HISTORY
Adopted by Ord. 05-02 on 4/5/2005
Adopted by Ord. 07-03 §2 on 2/6/2007

07-03

07-02