Chapter 18.118
COMMERCIAL OUTDOOR LIGHTING
Sections:
18.118.005 Purpose and intent.
18.118.020 Nonresidential lighting standards.
18.118.005 Purpose and intent.
The purpose of the lighting requirements in this title is to reasonably preserve visibility of the night sky and to reduce the impact of necessary commercial or industrial lighting on adjacent residential surroundings. This does not require the elimination of any light to adjacent zones but requires reasonable efforts to reduce light from nonresidential zones to adjacent residential zones. Reductions can be accomplished with the use of fencing, landscaping, structure locations, and light fixtures. (Ord. 2019-11 § 1 (Exh. A), 2019.)
18.118.010 Definitions.
“Agricultural lighting” means lighting that is used in relation to the tilling of soil, the raising of crops and animals for private, commercial or industry, horticulture, and gardening as defined in FCC 18.10.010.
“Full cut-off” means the bulb is fully recessed within the lighting fixture with no light emitted above the horizontal plane of the fixture.
“Holiday lighting” means any lights or lighting of decorations in conjunction with the celebration of a national, state, local, cultural or religious holiday.
“Special events” means events that are temporary in nature, multiple days in length and have obtained a special event permit from Francis City. (Ord. 2019-11 § 1 (Exh. A), 2019.)
18.118.015 Lighting plan.
An outdoor lighting plan shall be submitted with the site/development plan. The plan must show the location, height, number and type of fixtures to be used for all outdoor lighting. The applicant in nonresidential zones must also provide a plan on how outdoor lighting will minimize impacts on adjacent properties and lumen output for each fixture. All lighting plans for nonresidential uses must be approved by the City Council. (Ord. 2019-11 § 1 (Exh. A), 2019.)
18.118.020 Nonresidential lighting standards.
The following standards must be met for lighting in nonresidential zones:
1. All outdoor lighting must be full cut-off directing the light downward.
2. The bulb or lighting source cannot be visible from the property line.
3. Outdoor lighting cannot be directed towards any adjacent neighboring properties.
4. The maximum outdoor light output shall not exceed 100,000 lumens per acre. Allowed lumen output shall correspond with the size of the parcel.
5. Outdoor lighting shall be turned off or reduce total lumen usage output 50 percent by 11:00 p.m. except for the following conditions:
a. Operations that are open for 24 hours.
b. Lighting that has been approved by the city council for security purposes.
6. All fixtures shall be mounted no more than 18 feet high when adjacent to residential zones. Anything greater than 18 feet must be approved by the City Council. (Ord. 2019-11 § 1 (Exh. A), 2019.)
18.118.025 Exemptions.
The following are exempt from the lighting regulations and standards found in this title:
1. The lighting of a federal or state flag.
2. Holiday lighting.
3. Agriculture uses.
4. Monuments.
5. Special events. (Ord. 2019-11 § 1 (Exh. A), 2019.)
18.118.030 Compliance.
All outdoor lighting existing prior to the adoption of this title can remain in their current state. Upon replacement, expansion or remodel that warrants an inspection from the City building inspector related to outdoor lighting the outdoor lighting will be brought into compliance.
(Ord. 2019-11 § 1 (Exh. A), 2019.)