Chapter 18.282
OUTDOOR LIGHTING
Sections:
18.282.030 General requirements.
18.282.040 Critical area lighting.
18.282.050 Nonresidential and multifamily residential lighting.
18.282.060 Residential lighting for new construction.
18.282.070 Luminaire shielding.
18.282.080 Submittal of plans and evidence of compliance.
18.282.090 Lighting allowed by special permit.
18.282.010 Purpose.
The purpose of this lighting code is to:
(1) Provide standards for appropriate lighting practices and systems that will permit reasonable amounts of exterior lighting for safety, utility, security, productivity, enjoyment and commerce, while minimizing adverse impacts of lighting such as light trespass, glare, skyglow, and obtrusive light;
(2) Help protect the natural environment and inhabitants from the adverse effects of artificial night lighting;
(3) Make destinations appealing by highlighting streetscape elements and gathering places; and
(4) Conserve energy and resources to the extent possible. [Ord. 2019-20 § 2 (Exh. A), 2019.]
18.282.020 Applicability.
(1) New Development. All new nonresidential land uses and multifamily dwelling units with a common outdoor area that require a permit shall meet the requirements of this chapter.
(2) Newly Constructed Residential Dwellings. All newly constructed single-family detached or attached dwelling units and multifamily dwelling units without a common outdoor area shall meet the requirements of this chapter prior to issuance of the certificate of occupancy.
(3) Major Additions or Modifications. All additions or modifications to nonresidential buildings or multifamily dwelling units having a common outdoor area that increase the gross floor area or parking spaces by 25 percent or more, either with a single addition or with cumulative additions, shall comply with the requirements of this chapter for the entire property, including previously installed and any new outdoor lighting. Cumulative modification or replacement of outdoor lighting over a three-year period in a single phase or multiple phases constituting 25 percent or more of the permitted lumens for the parcel, no matter the actual amount of lighting already on a non-conforming site, shall constitute a major addition for purposes of this section.
(4) Minor Additions. Additions or modifications to existing nonresidential buildings or multifamily dwelling units having a common outdoor area of less than 25 percent of gross floor area or parking spaces and that require a building permit shall require the submission of a complete inventory and site plan detailing all existing and any proposed new outdoor luminaires. Any new outdoor luminaires on the site shall meet the requirements of this chapter with regard to shielding and lamp type; the total initial lumens after the modifications are complete shall not exceed that on the site before the modification, or that permitted by this chapter, whichever is less.
(5) Resumption of use after discontinuance. If a use with nonconforming lighting is discontinued for more than six months, all outdoor lighting shall be brought into compliance with this chapter before the use is resumed.
(6) Exemptions. All outdoor lighting shall comply with this chapter except the following:
(a) Any modification to single-family detached or attached dwelling units and multifamily dwelling units without a common outdoor area;
(b) Lighting within public right-of-way or easement for the principal purpose of illuminating streets, roads or sidewalks is regulated by the La Center Engineering Standards. No exemption shall apply to any lighting within the public right-of-way or easement when the purpose of the luminaire is to illuminate areas outside the public right-of-way or easement;
(c) Lighting solely for signs which are regulated by Chapter 8.60 LCMC, Sign Regulations;
(d) Repairs to existing luminaires on a property not exceeding 25 percent of total installed luminaires;
(e) Temporary lighting for theatrical, television, performance areas and construction sites lasting no longer than 10 calendar days within any 12 calendar month period, except as allowed by permit at the discretion of the review authority;
(f) Temporary exterior lighting intended as holiday/seasonal decorations displayed between October 15th and the following January 15th; provided, that individual lamps do not exceed 70 lumens and neither cause light trespass nor interfere with the reasonable use and enjoyment of any other property;
(g) Lighting that is only used under emergency conditions by emergency response personnel;
(h) Underwater lighting in swimming pools;
(i) Lighting required by federal, state, or county laws or regulations; or
(j) Lighting specified or identified in a specific use permit as described in LCMC 18.282.090, Lighting allowed by special permit. [Ord. 2019-20 § 2 (Exh. A), 2019.]
18.282.030 General requirements.
(1) Lighting Control Requirements.
(a) Controls shall be provided that automatically extinguish all outdoor lighting when sufficient daylight is available using a control device or system such as a photoelectric switch, astronomic time switch or equivalent functions from a programmable lighting controller, building automation system or lighting energy management system, all with battery or similar backup power or device.
(b) The above lighting control requirements do not apply to the following:
(i) Single-family detached or attached dwelling units and multifamily dwelling units without a common area;
(ii) Lighting for steps, stairs, walkways, and building entrances required by the building code;
(iii) Lighting for tunnels, parking garages, garage entrances, and similar conditions;
(iv) When, in the opinion of the review authority, a specific public safety hazard exists that can only be mitigated through the use of outdoor light;
(v) Motion-activated lighting that automatically reduces illumination intensity by at least 50 percent, or extinguishes entirely, within 15 minutes of activation due to inactivity;
(vi) Lighting governed by a special use permit in which times of operation are specifically identified; or
(vii) Businesses that operate and are continuously staffed on a 24-hour basis.
(c) One hour after a nonresidential use is closed for business or is not occupied, outdoor lighting lumens shall be reduced consistent with safety, security, and the usage needs of the illuminated space.
(2) Lighting Spectrum Requirement.
(a) All lighting shall use LED lamps whose correlated color temperature (CCT) does not exceed 3,000 Kelvin.
(b) The CCT of lighting may exceed 3,000 Kelvin in situations where the review authority determines that accurate color rendition is crucial to public safety, to law enforcement activities or commerce. In no case shall the CCT of such critical lighting exceed 5,000 Kelvin.
(3) Lighting Zones. Lighting limitations and standards are established for specifically defined lighting zones. The following are the three lighting zones established by this chapter:
(a) Lighting zone 0 (LZ-0) includes areas where the natural environment will be adversely affected by lighting. Impacts include disturbing the biological cycles of flora and fauna and/or detracting from human enjoyment and appreciation of the natural environment. Human activity is subordinate in importance to nature. The vision of human residents and users is adapted to the darkness, and they expect to see little or no lighting. When not needed, lighting should be extinguished. This lighting zone includes the La Center Bottoms, critical areas and critical area buffers.
(b) Lighting zone 1 (LZ-1) includes predominantly residential areas, including small neighborhood commercial areas. This lighting zone includes the city zoning districts of LDR 7.5, MDR-16, MX, RP, and JP (TRx).
(c) Lighting zone 2 (LZ-2) includes urban areas with primary land uses for commercial, business and industrial activity. This lighting zone includes the city zoning districts of C-1, C-3, JP (TC, TG and TE), and UP. [Ord. 2019-20 § 2 (Exh. A), 2019.]
18.282.040 Critical area lighting.
Exterior lighting luminaires and accent luminaires regardless of the lighting zone in which they are installed shall not directly illuminate the La Center Bottoms, critical areas and critical area buffers, even if these areas are privately owned. [Ord. 2019-20 § 2 (Exh. A), 2019.]
18.282.050 Nonresidential and multifamily residential lighting.
All nonresidential uses including commercial, industrial, institutional and public uses, and multifamily residential uses with a common outdoor area shall comply with the lighting standards of this subsection.
(1) The total maximum allowed installed initial lumens of all outdoor lighting shall be specified by either the parking space method or the hardscape area method. Only one method shall be used per permit application. Any existing lighting shall be included in the calculation of total installed initial lumens. The total installed initial lumens is the sum of the initial lumens for all luminaires installed at a given site.
(a) Parking Space Method. The parking space method may be used for properties with up to 10 parking spaces, including handicap spaces. The total site initial lumens per parking space for each lighting zone are specified in Table 18.282-1.
|
LZ-0 |
LZ-1 |
LZ-2 |
|---|---|---|
|
350 lumens per space |
490 lumens per space |
630 lumens per space |
(b) Hardscape Area Method. The hardscape area method may be used for uses defined in this section. The hardscape area is the area measured in square feet of all site hardscape. The site allowance consists of a base allowance plus an additional allowance for specific situations. The base and additional allowances are specified in Table 18.282-2. The additional allowances provide increased illumination for specific situations and are added to the base allowance as appropriate. No more than two additional allowances may be applied to a site.
|
|
LZ-0 |
LZ-1 |
LZ-2 |
|---|---|---|---|
|
Base Allowance of lumens per square foot of hardscape |
0.5 |
1 |
2 |
|
Additional Illumination Allowances |
|||
|
Pedestrian-Oriented Streets as defined in this title.1 This additional allowance shall apply to each side of a street individually. |
0 |
50.0 lumens per linear foot of pedestrian-oriented street |
75.0 lumens per linear foot of pedestrian-oriented street |
|
Pedestrian-Oriented Space as defined in this title.1 |
0 |
2 lumens per square foot of pedestrian-oriented space |
3 lumens per square foot of pedestrian-oriented space |
|
Vehicle Service Station. Allowance is lumens per installed fuel pump (for the purposes of this chapter a fuel pump is a single integrated structure that may have multiple dispensing hoses on one or two sides). |
0 |
0 |
8,000 lumens per pump |
|
Outdoor Sales Lots. This allowance is lumens per square foot of uncovered sales lots used exclusively for the display of vehicles or other merchandise for sale, and shall not include driveways, parking or other nonsales areas. To use this allowance, luminaires must be within two mounting heights of sales lot area. |
0 |
0 |
8 lumens per square foot |
|
Outdoor Sales Frontage. This allowance is for linear feet of sales frontage immediately adjacent to the principal viewing location(s) and unobstructed for its viewing length. A corner sales lot may include two adjacent sides; provided, that a different principal viewing location exists for each side. In order to use this allowance, luminaires must be located between the principal viewing location and the frontage outdoor sales area. |
0 |
0 |
800 lumens per linear foot |
|
Drive-Up Windows. In order to use this allowance, luminaires must be within 20 feet horizontal distance of the center of the window. |
0 |
2,000 lumens per window |
4,000 lumens per window |
1 The additional illumination allowance for pedestrian-oriented streets and spaces shall only be used for streets or spaces specifically designated as pedestrian-oriented by the review authority.
[Ord. 2019-20 § 2 (Exh. A), 2019.]
18.282.060 Residential lighting for new construction.
All newly constructed single-family detached or attached dwellings units and multiple family residences not having a common outdoor area shall not exceed the initial lumens specified in Table 18.282-3 at the time of the certificate of occupancy is issued.
|
|
LZ-0 |
LZ-1 |
LZ-2 |
|---|---|---|---|
|
Total maximum allowed lumens for each full cutoff shielded luminaire |
630 |
1260 |
1260 |
|
Maximum allowed lumens for each accent luminaire |
0 |
800 |
1,050 |
|
Maximum allowed lumens for each full cutoff shielded area lighting |
0 |
0 |
1260 |
[Ord. 2019-20 § 2 (Exh. A), 2019.]
18.282.070 Luminaire shielding.
Luminaires shall meet the IES BUG ratings as specified in Table 18.282-4. Full cutoff shielded luminaires shall be used in canopies or for residential dwellings when BUG-rated luminaires are not available. Luminaires shall be installed to direct the light downward to prevent light trespass.
|
|
LZ-0 |
LZ-1 |
LZ-2 |
|---|---|---|---|
|
Maximum allowed backlight rating for luminaires mounted greater than two mounting heights from adjacent property line |
B1 |
B3 |
B4 |
|
Maximum allowed backlight rating for luminaires mounted greater than one and less than two mounting heights from adjacent property line |
B1 |
B2 |
B3 |
|
Maximum allowed backlight rating for luminaires mounted less than one mounting height from adjacent property line |
B0 |
B0 |
B1 |
|
Maximum allowed uplight rating |
U0 |
U01 |
U1 |
|
Maximum allowed uplight rating on pedestrian-oriented streets and pedestrian-oriented spaces |
U0 |
U3 |
U3 |
|
Maximum allowed uplight rating for street, parking lots or area lighting |
U0 |
U0 |
U0 |
|
Maximum allowed glare rating |
G0 |
G1 |
G2 |
Note 1. Accent lighting with newly constructed residential dwellings is allowed if the accent luminaire is aimed and shielded so the light-emitting element is not visible from another property.
[Ord. 2019-20 § 2 (Exh. A), 2019.]
18.282.080 Submittal of plans and evidence of compliance.
(1) Submittal Content. A development proposal subject to this title that includes outdoor lighting subject to LCMC 18.282.020, Applicability, shall submit, as part of the application for land use and building permit, evidence that the proposed outdoor lighting complies with the applicable provisions of this chapter. The installation or modification of any outdoor lighting subject to LCMC 18.282.020, Applicability, (except for routine servicing and same-type lamp replacement) shall provide the information required under this section. The evidence provided shall contain, at a minimum, the following information:
(a) Plans demonstrating compliance with the requirements of this chapter including the total number and location on the premises of all outdoor luminaires, both proposed and any already existing on the site;
(b) Analysis demonstrating nonresidential compliance with any applicable photometric standards in this chapter; and
(c) Description of all outdoor luminaires, both proposed and existing. The description may include, but is not limited to, catalog cuts and illustrations by manufacturers (including sections where required); lamp types, BUG rating, wattages, and initial lumen outputs;
(2) The above required plans, descriptions and data shall be sufficiently complete to enable the review authority to readily determine whether compliance with the requirements of this chapter will be secured. If the review authority finds that the required plans, descriptions and data are not sufficient, the review authority may request additional evidence including but not limited to reports of tests performed by a certified testing laboratory. [Ord. 2019-20 § 2 (Exh. A), 2019.]
18.282.090 Lighting allowed by special permit.
(1) High Intensity and Special Purpose Lighting. The following are prohibited from being installed or used except by special use permit:
(a) Temporary lighting in which any single luminaire exceeds 20,000 lumens or the total quantity of light exceeds 160,000 lumens;
(b) Lasers;
(c) Searchlights; or
(d) Other very intense lighting, defined as having a light source of a luminous flux exceeding 200,000 initial lumens or a radiant intensity in any direction of more than 2,000,000 candelas.
(2) Complex and Nonconforming Uses.
(a) The review authority may issue a special permit for lighting not in compliance with the technical requirements of this chapter but consistent with its intent for the following or similar lighting needs:
(i) Outdoor sports facilities, including but not limited to outdoor rinks, open courts, fields, and stadiums. Such lighting must be fully extinguished by 10:00 p.m. or one hour after the end of play, whichever is later, and must be fitted with automatic timers to prevent lighting from operating inadvertently after this time;
(ii) Urban parks;
(iii) Lighting for industrial sites having unique security lighting requirements;
(iv) Parking Structures. Uncovered top decks of parking structures shall be regulated according to this section; or
(v) Theme and amusement parks, during normal operating hours and when otherwise occupied.
(b) An application for a complex or non-conforming use permit shall provide written evidence that:
(i) Every reasonable effort has been undertaken to mitigate the effects of light on both the environment and surrounding properties; and
(ii) The use employs lighting controls to reduce lighting at a project specific curfew time to be established in the permit.
(c) The applicant shall furnish documentation describing the nature and scope of all mitigation efforts undertaken.
(d) The review authority shall review each such application and may issue a Complex or nonconforming use permit if the review authority finds that the proposed lighting will not create excessive glare, skyglow, or light trespass. [Ord. 2019-20 § 2 (Exh. A), 2019.]