5.a) Lighting Ordinance Ch. 2, Sect 3.9Excerpt from Scandia Development Code
Chapter 2
3.9 Lighting
(1) Exemptions. The standards of this section shall not apply to the following:
(A) Temporary holiday lighting. This Development Code does not prohibit the use of
temporary outdoor lighting used during customary holiday seasons provided that
individual lamps are 10 watts or less.
(B) Civic Event Lighting. This Development Code does not prohibit the use of temporary
outdoor lighting used for civic celebrations and promotions.
(C) Lighting required and regulated by the Federal Aviation Administration or other
federal or state agency.
(D) Emergency lighting by police, fire and rescue authorities.
(2) Nonconforming Uses.
(A) All outdoor lighting fixtures lawfully existing and legally installed prior to the
effective date of this Chapter are exempt from the regulations contained in this
Chapter.
(B) Whenever an outdoor light fixture that was existing on the effective date of this
Chapter is replaced by a new outdoor light fixture, the new fixture shall meet the
standards of this Chapter.
(3) Method of Measuring Light Intensity. The foot-candle level of a light source shall be taken after
dark with the light meter held 6 inches above the ground with the meter facing the light source. A
reading shall be taken with the light source on, then with the light source off. The difference
between the two readings will be identified as the illumination intensity.
(4) Performance Standards.
(A) Lighting plans shall be reviewed for compatibility with the Scandia Architectural
Design Guidelines, as applicable.
(B) In the Agriculture District – Core (AG C), Agriculture Preserves District (AP),
General Rural District (GR) and Village Neighborhood District (VN), any lighting
used to illuminate an off-street parking area or other structure or area shall be arranged
as to deflect light away from any adjoining residential property or from the public
street.
1. Shielding. The light source shall be hooded or controlled so as not to light adjacent
property in excess of the maximum intensity defined in Section 3.9 (4) (A) 2. Bare
light bulbs shall not be permitted in view of adjacent property or public right of
way.
2. Intensity. No light source or combination thereof which casts light on a public
street shall exceed 1 foot candle meter reading as measured from the centerline of
said street nor shall any light source or combination thereof which casts light on
adjacent property exceed 0.4 foot candles as measured at the property line.
(C) In the Village Mixed Use A District (VMU A), Village Mixed Use B District (VMU
B), Industrial Park District (IP) and Rural Commercial District (R COMM), any
lighting used to illuminate an off-street parking area or other structure or area shall be
arranged as to deflect light away from any adjoining property or from the public street.
1. Shielding. The luminaire shall contain a cutoff that directs and cuts off the light at
an angle of 90 degrees or less.
2. Intensity. No light source or combination thereof which casts light on a public
street shall exceed 1 foot candle meter reading as measured from the centerline of
said street nor shall any light source or combination thereof which casts light on
adjacent property exceed 0.4 foot candles as measured at the property line.
3. Height: The maximum height above the ground grade permitted for light sources
mounted on a pole is 18 feet except by conditional use permit. A light source
mounted on a building shall not exceed the height of the building and no light
sources shall be located on the roof unless said light enhances the architectural
features of the building and is approved by the Zoning Administrator.
4. Location: The light source of an outdoor light fixture shall be setback a minimum
of 10 feet from a street right of way and 5 feet from an interior side or rear lot line.
5. Hours: The use of outdoor lighting for parking lots serving commercial and
industrial businesses is restricted according to the following. Outdoor lighting that
serves businesses that do not operate after dark shall be turned off 1 hour after
closing except for approved security lighting. For those businesses that offer
services after dark, outdoor lighting may be utilized during the nighttime hours
provided the business is open for service. Once the business closes, the outdoor
lighting shall be turned off 1 hour after closing except for security lighting.
6. Design: Lighting shall be subject to design review for compatibility with the
Scandia Architectural Design Guidelines.
(D) Outdoor Recreation: Outdoor recreational uses such as, but not limited to baseball
fields, football fields, tennis courts and snow skiing areas have special requirements
for night time lighting. Due to these unique circumstances, a conditional use permit
shall be required for all new outdoor lighting fixtures that do not meet the regulations
stated above.
1. No outdoor recreation facility whether public or private shall be illuminated after
11:00 PM unless the lighting fixtures conform to Section 3.9 (4) (B), above.
2. Off street parking areas for outdoor recreation uses which are illuminated shall
meet the requirements stated in Section 3.9 (4) (C) 2.
(5) Prohibitions. The following outdoor light fixtures are prohibited within the City of Scandia:
(A) Search lights or sky trackers
(B) Flashing, blinking or rotating lights
(C) Neon lighting on the exterior of a building
(D) LED (light emitting diode) lights
(E) Individually lit letters in signs
(F) Raceway lighting
(G) Exposed fluorescent tubes
(H) Mercury vapor lamps
(I) Laser lights
(J) Back lit canopies or awnings
(6) Submission of Plans. The applicant for any permit requiring outdoor lighting shall submit evidence
the proposed outdoor lighting will comply with this Development Code. The submission shall
contain the following in addition to other required data for the specific permit:
(A) Plans indicating the location on the premises, and the type of illuminating devices,
fixtures, lamps, supports, reflectors and other devices.
(B) Description of illuminating devices, fixtures, lamps, supports, reflectors and other
devices and the description may include, but is not limited to, catalog cuts by
manufacturers and drawings (including sections where required);
(C) Photometric data, such as that furnished by manufacturers, or similar showing the
angle of the cutoff or light emissions.