Chapter 19.60
OUTDOOR LIGHTING
Sections:
19.60.030 Required submittals.
19.60.060 Types of lighting prohibited.
19.60.080 Existing nonconforming fixtures.
19.60.090 Conflict, administration, and interpretation.
19.60.110 Violation – Penalty.
19.60.010 Purpose.
The purpose of this chapter is to manage and/or limit outdoor lighting to preserve and recover the visibility of the night sky; prevent light trespass, obtrusive light, and glare; to conserve energy and protect natural resources; and to facilitate safety and security of persons and property. (Ord. 19-193 § 1).
19.60.020 Definitions.
“Accent lighting” means lighting used to emphasize or draw attention to a special object, building, pond, tree, or shrub.
“Canopy lights” means lights embedded in or attached to a covering that is outside and shall be recessed sufficiently so that no light spills onto adjacent property or right-of-way.
“Exterior lighting” means temporary or permanent lighting that is installed, located or used in such a manner to cause light rays to shine outside. Fixtures that are installed indoors that are intended to light something outside are considered exterior lighting for purposes of this chapter.
“Fixture” means the assembly that holds the lamp in a lighting system. It includes the elements designed to give light output controls, such as reflector (mirror) or refractor (lens), the ballast, housing, and the attachment parts.
“Glare” means a lighting entering the eye directly from luminaires or indirectly from reflective surfaces that has the potential to cause visual discomfort or reduced visibility.
“Illumination levels” means the amount of light measured in a plane.
“Light trespass” means light that falls beyond the property lines of the property owned by the luminaire owner and for which the light is intended to illuminate.
“Lighting” means electric or manmade luminaire that functions to produce light.
“Lumen” means the unit of measure used to quantify the amount of light produced by a lamp or emitted from a luminaire (as distinct from “watt,” a measure of power consumption).
“Luminaire” means the complete lighting unit (fixture), consisting of a lamp, or lamps and ballast(s) (when applicable), together with the parts designed to distribute the light (reflector, lens, diffuser), to position and protect the lamps, and to connect the lamps to the power supply.
“New lighting” means the lighting for areas not previously illuminated; newly installed lighting of any type except for replacement lighting or lighting repairs.
“Photometric plan” means a lighting plan designed using the science of photometry to measure the light, in terms of its perceived brightness to the human eye.
“Replacement lighting” means lighting installed specifically to replace existing lighting that is sufficiently broken to be beyond repair.
“Temporary lighting” means lighting installed and operated for periods not to exceed 60 days, completely removed and not operated again for at least 30 days. (Ord. 19-193 § 1).
19.60.030 Required submittals.
A. All projects requiring site plan review per this title or an inspection by the city’s building official and when the project includes installation of new lighting shall include a photometric plan as part of the required application.
B. The photometric plan shall include, at a minimum, the following:
1. The location of all exterior lighting fixtures proposed, the mounting or installation height, the overall illumination levels and uniformities; and
2. A drawing showing the proposed light footprint of each fixture in all angles vertically and horizontally around the fixture.
C. The photometric plan shall be reviewed and approved by the city mayor or his or her designee. A temporary photometric plan may be approved if designed to comply with the general standards of this chapter and/or is approved by the city mayor or his or her designee and does not exceed three months in duration. The city mayor or his or her designee may grant one additional three-month extension for unanticipated circumstances and/or if the city mayor or his or her designee finds the renewal is in the best interest of the public health, safety, and welfare. (Ord. 19-193 § 1).
19.60.040 Exemptions.
The following types of lighting shall be exempt from the provisions of this chapter:
A. Federally funded and state funded roadway construction projects.
B. Full cutoff street lighting which is part of a federal, state, or municipal installation.
C. Holiday lighting and other seasonal decorations are not required to be shielded if they are not in use for more than 60 consecutive days.
D. Specialized lighting necessary for safety, temporary lighting associated with emergency operations, and/or roadway hazard warnings.
E. Lighting used with a temporary event that receives an event permit from the city to operate.
F. Traffic control signals and devices.
G. Sports field lighting, subject to the provisions contained in RIMC 19.60.050, General standards.
H. Motion-activated, intermittent home and business security lighting, subject to the provisions contained in RIMC 19.60.050, General standards. (Ord. 19-193 § 1).
19.60.050 General standards.
The following general standards shall apply to all exterior lighting fixtures and accent lighting to which the provisions of this chapter apply:
A. All light trespass is prohibited.
B. Accent lighting shall be directed downward onto the illuminated object area, and not upward into the sky, or adjacent properties. Direct accent lighting emissions shall not be visible above the roofline, building, or other associated structure.
C. Canopy lights shall be recessed sufficiently so that no light spills onto adjacent property or right-of-way.
D. Illumination levels and uniformity ratios shall be in accordance with and do not exceed the most current recommended standards set by the Illumination Engineering Society of North America (IESNA).
E. The property owner shall verify to the city in writing that all exterior lighting is installed as described in the approved photometric plan.
F. Exterior lighting fixtures and accent lighting shall not illuminate nonnavigable public bodies of water.
G. All radio, communication, and navigation towers that require lights shall have dual lighting capabilities. For daytime, a white strobe light may be used, and for nighttime, only red lights shall be used.
H. Uplighting is prohibited, except in cases where the fixture is shielded by a roof overhang or similar structural shield from the sky, and a licensed architect or engineer has approved and stamped a lighting plan that ensures that the light fixture(s) will not cause light to extend beyond the structural shield, except as may be specifically permitted in this chapter.
I. Exterior lighting must conform to shielding requirements of this chapter.
J. Compliance with the most current applicable edition of energy conservation standards of the Washington State Energy Code is required.
K. Compliance with Chapter 15.02 RIMC, Building Code, is required. (Ord. 19-193 § 1).
19.60.060 Types of lighting prohibited.
The provisions of this chapter are not intended to prevent the use of any design, material or method of installation unless specifically prohibited. Use of the following fixtures and luminaires is specifically prohibited:
A. Searchlights, laser source lights, and other high-intensity lights are not permitted, except in the case of emergencies when used by police, firefighters, and/or other emergency services or rescue operations personnel.
B. Uplighting, unless specifically permitted by this chapter.
C. The use of blinking, flashing, moving, revolving, flickering, chase lighting, and neon (except when such lighting is used for public safety purposes). Neon lighting may be used for signs that otherwise comply with the city sign code and the provisions of this chapter. (Ord. 19-193 § 1).
19.60.070 Specific standards.
In addition to the general standards required under this chapter, the following specific standards shall apply within specific areas and for specific uses as delineated below:
A. Service Station Canopies.
1. Shielding. All luminaires mounted on or recessed into the lower surface of service station canopies shall be fully shielded and utilize flat lenses.
2. Total Under-Canopy Output. The total light output used for illumination under a service station canopy shall be limited to the following:
a. The sum of all under-canopy initial bare-lamp outputs in lumens shall not exceed 60 lumens per square foot of canopy.
b. All lighting mounted under the canopy, including but not limited to luminaires mounted on the lower surface or recessed into the lower surface of the canopy and any lighting within signage or illuminated panels over the pumps, is to be included toward the total at full initial lumen output.
B. Outdoor Recreation Facilities. Fixtures shall be fully shielded.
C. Parking Lots.
1. Fixtures shall be fully shielded.
2. Fixtures shall be designed, located, constructed and maintained so as to not cause direct illumination on adjacent and nearby properties or public rights-of-way. (Ord. 19-193 § 1).
19.60.080 Existing nonconforming fixtures.
A. No existing exterior lighting fixture which was lawfully installed prior to the enactment of this chapter shall be required to be removed or modified, except as expressly provided herein. No modification or replacement shall be made to an existing nonconforming fixture unless the fixture thereafter conforms to the provisions of this chapter.
B. Where an existing legal nonconforming fixture can be adjusted to provide for less light trespass onto adjacent properties without replacing the fixture and still continue to serve its primary purpose, said fixture shall be adjusted to come into greater compliance with the requirements of this chapter.
C. In the event that an existing exterior lighting fixture is abandoned or not used for a period of more than one year or is damaged to the point of requiring a replacement fixture be installed, any such replacement lighting fixture shall be required to comply with the provisions of this chapter. (Ord. 19-193 § 1).
19.60.090 Conflict, administration, and interpretation.
In the event of conflict between the regulations set forth in this chapter and any other regulations, the more stringent limitation(s) and/or requirement(s) shall apply. The administration of and interpretations of provisions in this chapter shall be made by the mayor or his or her designee. (Ord. 19-193 § 1).
19.60.100 Appeals.
A. Appeals of any administrative decision or interpretation decision shall be filed with the city clerk within 14 calendar days of the issuance of the decision appealed and shall be processed pursuant to the provisions of RIMC Title 14 applicable to administrative appeals, as the same exists now, or may hereafter be amended.
B. The hearing examiner shall hear and make final decisions on appeals from and pursuant to the provisions of RIMC Title 14, as the same exists now, or may hereafter be amended.
C. Appeals of a decision of the hearing examiner shall be judicial appeals to the Douglas County superior court and must be filed in the superior court and served on the city clerk within 21 days after the date of issuance of the notice of final decision of the hearing examiner pursuant to the applicable provisions of RIMC Title 14 and Chapter 36.70C RCW as the same exist now or may hereafter be amended. (Ord. 19-193 § 1).
19.60.110 Violation – Penalty.
Any person who shall violate any of the provisions of this chapter or who shall fail to comply with any order made thereunder, or who shall install new lighting or replacement lighting in violation of the provisions of this chapter or a city approved lighting plan, shall severally and for each such violation and noncompliance, respectively, be guilty of a civil infraction and shall be subject to a civil monetary penalty of $500.00 plus $50.00 per day for each day a violation continues to exist following the tenth day after written notice of the violation is provided to the person by the city. (Ord. 19-193 § 1).