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ORDINANCE NO. 1552
AN ORDINANCE OF THE CITY OF LAGUNA BEACH ADOPTING
MUNICIPAL CODE CHAPTER 7.70 ENTITLED GOOD NEIGHBOR
OUTDOOR LIGHTING
WHEREAS, on March 9, 2011, and March 23, 2011, the Planning Commission
conducted a legally noticed public hearing and, and after reviewing and considering all
documents, testimony and other evidence presented, voted to recommend that the City Council
adopt the Outdoor Lighting Ordinance; and
WHEREAS, on May 3, 2011, July 12, 2011, and August 16, 2010, the City Council
conducted legally noticed public hearings and reviewed and considered all documents,
testimony and other evidence presented;
NOW, THEREFORE THE CITY COUNCIL OF THE CITY OF LAGUNA
BEACH DOES ORDAIN, as follows:
SECTION 1.
Chapter 7.70 is hereby added to the Laguna Beach Municipal Code
to read in its entirety as followings:
Chapter 7.70
GOOD NEIGHBOR OUTDOOR LIGHTING
Sections:
7.70.010
7.70.020
7.70.030
7.70.040
7.70.050
7.70.060
Declaration.
Purpose.
Definitions.
Applicability and Good Neighbor Information Process.
General Standards.
Exemptions.
7.70.010
Declaration. The City Council declares as follows:
Properly designed and installed outdoor night lighting can benefit everyone by increasing
safety, enhancing the City's nighttime character and providing security. These benefits must
be balanced with the fact that outdoor lighting that is improperly designed and/or installed
can create problems of excessive glare, light trespass, and higher energy use. Excessive glare
can be annoying and may cause safety problems. Light trespass can reduce a sense of
privacy. Higher energy use increases utility costs and contributes to global climate change.
There is a need for a lighting ordinance that recognizes the benefits of outdoor lighting and
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provides clear guidelines to mmUlllze any negative effects. Appropriately regulated and
properly installed, outdoor lighting contributes to the safety and welfare of the residents,
business and visitors of the City.
7.70.020
Purpose.
The purpose of this Chapter is to regulate outdoor lighting in order to reduce or prevent light
pollution, to reduce or prevent glare and light trespass, to promote the conservation of
energy, and to preserve and enhance neighborhood character and night-sky beauty of the City
of Laguna Beach, while also respecting the need for safety and security.
7.70.030
Definitions. As used in this chapter:
Accent lighting means any directional lighting that emphasizes a particular object or
(A)
draws attention to a particular area.
(B)
Floodlight means a lamp that spreads light over a wide area.
Full Cut-Off means a luminaire that allows no direct light emissions above the
(C)
horizontal plane (see definition of horizontal plane).
(D)
Fully shielded means light fixtures shielded or constructed so that no direct light
emissions occur above the horizontal plane (see definition of horizontal plane).
Glare means stray, unshielded light striking the eye that results in discomfort glare,
(E)
such as bright light causing squinting of the eyes; and/or disabling glare, such as
bright light that reduces the ability to see into shadows.
Horizontal Plane means a ninety degree (90) angle measured from a vertical line
(F)
from the bottom of the lamp or bulb extended to the ground.
(G)
Kelvin means the measure of the color temperature of a light source.
Lamp or Bulb means the light-producing source installed in the socket portion of a
(H)
luminaire.
(1)
Light pollution means general night sky glow caused by scattering artificial light in
the atmosphere and resulting in a decreased ability to see the natural night sky.
(1)
Light trespass means light emitted by a fixture that directly illuminates beyond the
property on which the fixture is installed.
(K)
Lumen means a measurement of light energy generated by a light source.
(L)
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 COImect the lamps to the power supply.
Lux means one lumen per square meter, a unit of luminance.
(M)
(N)
Shielding means a method to control light rays so as to avoid light trespass or glare.
(0)
Spotlight means any lamp that incorporates a reflector or a refractor to concentrate the
light output into a directed beam in a particular direction.
Watt means a unit of electric power consumed by a lamp or bulb.
(P)
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7.70.040
Applicability and Good Neighbor Information Process.
(A) Amortization Period. Any luminaire or fixture that does not conform to this chapter,
but which lawfully existed as of the date of the enactment of the ordinance codified in
this chapter, shall be abated or made to conform within ninety (90) days of the
property owner or business owner receiving written notice that the luminaire or
fixture is nonconforming.
(B) Any person or business may submit an application to the Community Development
Director for an administrative exemption from, or a delay in completing corrective
action, pursuant to the requirement of section 25.05.020. The request shall state fully:
1. The circumstances and conditions that justify an administrative exemption;
and
2. The circumstances and conditions that would result in a financial hardship or
deprive the applicant of reasonable use of the land or building; and
3. How granting an administrative exemption will not be injurious to the
neighborhood or otherwise detrimental to the public health, safety, or welfare.
(C) Compliance with this chapter shall be administered and enforced by the City of
Laguna Beach Community Development Department pursuant to the provisions of
Chapter 1.15 of the Municipal Code. Any adjacent neighboring property owner
affected by glare or trespass shall first discuss the concern with the owner of the light
fixture prior to filing a service request with the City. The filing of service requests
shall be limited to adjacent neighboring property owners directly impacted by light
trespass.
(D) The provisions of this chapter shall be applicable to all federal, state, and local
governmental agencies to the maximum extent permitted by law.
(E) In the event of a conflict between the provisions of the chapter and any other section
of the Municipal Code, the more restrictive requirement shall apply.
General Standards. The following general standards shall apply to all
7.70.050
outdoor lighting installed after the effective date of this chapter:
(A) Light trespass that results in glare is prohibited.
(B) Outdoor lighting must be hooded, fully shielded, and aimed downward. Examples of
acceptable and unacceptable light shielding and hooding are shown in Table A.
(C) Mercury vapor and low pressure sodium lighting are not permitted for street lighting
and commercial applications.
7.70.060
Exemptions. The following are exempt from the provisions of this chapter:
(A) Fixtures not fully shielded shall be allowed only if less than 3000 kelvin and/or 750
lumens per fixture.
(B) Traffic control signals and devices.
(C) Street lights installed prior to the effective date of this chapter. New or replacement
lighting shall comply with this chapter.
(D) Temporary emergency lighting (e.g., for use by fire, police, or repair personnel).
(E) Moving vehicle lights.
(F) Residential holiday lighting between November 15 th and January 15 th and turned off
no later than 12:00 a.m. Residential holiday lighting, as defined by City Council
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(G) (H) (1) (1) (K) (L) (M) (N) resolution, between January 16th and November 14th limited to no more than seven (7)
consecutive days and turned off no later than 12:00 a.m.
Existing outdoor sports-field lights installed prior to the effective date of this chapter.
New or replacement lighting shall comply with this chapter.
Special events approved by the City pursuant to a Temporary Use Permit and
emergency or City approved night-time construction.
Safety lights not exceeding 2400 lumens (150 watts incandescent equivalent) per
fixture and that are controlled by a motion sensor switch and do not remain on longer
than 5 minutes after activation.
Low voltage landscape lighting that does not exceed 400 lumens (35 watts
incandescent equivalent) per fixture or string of lights.
Approved lighting fixtures on any building or structure listed on the City's Historic
Register and Historic Inventory. Nonconforming lighting fixtures consistent with the
character of a historic structure may be exempted, subject to the approval of the
Community Development Director. Approved fixtures shall be consistent with the
architectural period and architecture of the structure or district and shall not exceed
750 lumens (60 watt incandescent equivalent) and 3000 kelvin.
Accent lighting for art located in public places subject to the approval of the
Community Development Director.
Lighting for U.S. flags.
Lighting required for the purpose of public safety or crime prevention and approved
by the Chief of Police.
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Table A
ACCEPTABLE SHIELDING, HOODING AND AIMING OF OUTDOOR LIGHT
FIXTURES
The following schematics show what is acceptable and what is unacceptable in the City of
Laguna Beach.
ACCEPTABLE
UNACCEPTABLE
Fixtures that Shield the Light SoW'ce [0
Minimize Glare and Light Trespass ­
Facilitating Better Night Vision
Fixlures thar. Produce Glare
and Light Trespass
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Unshielded or Poorly-shielded Floodlights
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Full Cutoff Fixtu res
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Umhiclded WalJpack~ & Poocly­
shielded Wall Mount Fixtures
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Unshielded
Security Ught
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Fully-sluclded Fixmres
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Unshielded
'Period' Style hxrures
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Full Cutoff
Street light
Shiel~
Fully
Security Light
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PAR Floodlights
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Drop-lens & Sag-lens Fixtures
with Exposed Bulb/Refracwr Lens
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l;ully-shiclded Wallpack & Wall Mount Fixtures
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Unshielded
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Drop,lens
Canopy Fixtures
Shielded/Properly Aimed
PAR Floodlights
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FuJJy Shielded
'Period' Seyle Fixtures
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Flush Mounted
Canopy Fixtures
ACCEPTABLE
Fixtures that Shield the Light Source to
Minimize Glare and Light Trespass ­
Facilitating Better Night Vision
UNACCEPTABLE
Fixtures that Produce Glare
and Light Trespass
Full Cutoff
Street Light
Unshielded
Street Ught
Unshielded
Security Light
Fully Shielded
Security Light
Street and Parking Lot Pole Ughts
Street and Parking Lot Pole Lights
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No Light
Should Fall OIl
this Side of the
Property Line
I+-- Neighbor's _ _
Your Property---~)o
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Property
Street and Lot Light Cut-off at Property Une
I - Neighbor's ­
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Property
Your Property --_)0
Street and Lot Light Cut-off at Propeny Line
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SECTION 2.
This Ordinance is exempt from compliance with the California
Envirorunental Quality Act (CEQA) pursuant to Section 15061(b)(3) of the State CEQA
Guidelines.
SECTION 3.
If any portion of this Ordinance, or the application of any such
provision to any person or circumstance, shall be held invalid, the remainder of this Ordinance
to the extent it can be given effect, of the application of such provision to persons or
circumstances other than those as to which it is held invalid, shall not be affected thereby, and to
this extent the provisions of this Ordinance are severable.
SECTION 4.
This Ordinance is intended to be of Citywide effect and application.
All ordinances and provisions of the Laguna Beach Municipal Code and Sections thereof
inconsistent shall be and the same are hereby repealed to the extent of such inconsistency and no
further.
SECTION 5.
The City Clerk of the City of Laguna Beach shall certify to the
passage and adoption of this Ordinance, and shall cause the same to be published in the manner
required by law in the City of Laguna Beach. This Ordinance shall become effective on
February 1,2012.
ADOPTED this 16th day of August, 2011.
Toni Iseman, Mayor
ATTEST:
Lzy[~/ ~
City Clerk
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I, Martha Anderson, City Clerk of the City of Laguna Beach, do hereby certify that the
foregoing Ordinance was introduced at a regular meeting of the City Council on July 12, 2011,
and was finally adopted at a regular meeting of the City Council of said City held on August 16,
2011, by the following vote:
AYES:
COUNCILMEMBER(S):
Egly, Rollinger, Iseman
NOES:
COUNCILMEMBER(S):
Boyd, Pearson
ABSENT:
COUNCILMEMBER(S):
None
City Clerk of the City of Laguna Beach, CA
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