11.06.240 Requirements for Outdoor Lighting

A. Purpose. It is recognized that the topography, atmospheric conditions, and mountainous terrain in Interlaken Town are unique and valuable to the community. The enjoyment of a starry night is an experience the community desires to preserve. The Town of Interlaken, through the provisions herein contained, promotes the reduction of light pollution that interferes with enjoyment of the night sky. It is the intent of this Section to establish lighting practices and systems to minimize light pollution, glare, and light trespass, and curtail the degradation of the nighttime visual environment. The requirements in this Section are employed to restrict the use of outdoor artificial illuminating devices emitting undesirable light rays that: 1. Have a detrimental effect on astronomical observations and wildlife activity. 2. Create a public nuisance. B. Conformance with Applicable Codes. All outdoor electrically powered illuminating devices shall be permitted, inspected, and installed in conformance with the provisions of this Code, the International Building Code, the Electrical Code, and the Illuminating Engineering Society of North America standards. When discrepancies in these Codes exist, the most restrictive shall apply. C. General Regulations. 1. The provisions of this Section shall apply to all outdoor artificial illuminating devices, outdoor fixtures, lamps, and other devices, permanent or portable, used for illumination. Such devices shall include, but are not limited to search, spot, or flood lights, and other fixtures used to illuminate: a. buildings and structures b. recreational areas, sport courts, patios, driveways, and walkways c. general area and yard lighting (including security lighting and motion sensitive lighting) 2. Every outdoor light source shall be operated so that it does not emit a beam or intense glare beyond the property boundary. Such lighting shall be operated in a way that it is directed away from and shielded from any adjacent property and shall not detract from driver visibility on adjacent streets. Compliance is achieved with fixture shielding, directional control designed into the fixture, fixture location, fixture height, fixture aim, or a combination of these factors. 3. All outdoor artificial illuminating devices, except those devices exempted in 11.06.240 (J), shall be fully shielded as required in this Section. 4. The provisions of this Section are not intended to prevent the use of any material or method of installation that is not specifically prohibited by this Section, if any such alternative has been approved by the Planning Commission or Administrative Staff. The Planning Commission or Administrative Staff may approve any such alternate as long as the proposed design, material or method: a. Provides approximate equivalence to those specific requirements of this Section; or b. Is otherwise satisfactory and complies with the intent of this Section. 5. All outdoor illuminating devices shall be installed in conformance with the provisions of this Section as well as with all other provisions of the Interlaken Town Land Use and Building Codes, as these are later amended and as applicable. Any language contained in this Section that conflicts with other Sections of the Interlaken Town Municipal Code shall be construed consistent with this Section. D. Definitions 1. Fully Shielded. (full cut off) Fixtures shall be shielded in such a manner that light rays emitted by the fixture, either directly from the lamp or indirectly from the fixture, are below a horizontal plane running through the lowest point on the fixture where light is emitted, thus preventing the emission of light above the horizontal. This fixture has a solid housing with a flat lens or bottom, and the bulb is fully within the housing. This type of fixture provides optimum light control. See figure 1 for examples of fully shielded fixtures. Figure 1 2. Glare. The sensation produced by luminance within the visual field that is sufficiently greater than the luminance to which the eyes are adapted to cause annoyance, discomfort, or loss in visual performance and visibility. 3. Outdoor Light Output Total. The maximum total amount of light, measured in lumens, from all outdoor light fixtures. 4. Partially Shielded. Fixtures that are shielded in such a manner that the bottom edge of the shield is below the plane centerline of the light source (lamp), minimizing the emission of light rays above the horizontal plane. This type of fixture uses a lamp that is partially exposed and an internal reflector that directs the light downward and spill light to the side and upward. Such fixtures provide some lighting control. Partially shielded fixtures are prohibited except as allowed in 11.06.240 (J). 5. Unshielded Fixtures. A lamp that provides no lighting control and is totally exposed with no internal reflector, allowing light to be emitted in all directions. This type of fixture provides no lighting control. Unshielded fixtures are prohibited except as allowed in 11.06.240 (J). E. Shielding. All non-exempt outdoor lighting shall be Fully Shielded. F. Pathway and Driveway Lighting. The intent of pathway and driveway lighting is to provide pools of light to help direct pedestrians or vehicles along the path or driveway, not to fully illuminate the area. Pathway and driveway lighting shall not be mounted more than eighteen inches (18”) above finished grade, measured from the top of the fixture. G. Seasonal Display of Lights. Low-Lumen winter seasonal lights that do not cause light trespass or interfere with the reasonable use and enjoyment of property are permitted during the dates and times set below. Seasonal lights are exempt from the Fully Shielded requirement, and any color of lights may be used with the following conditions: 1. Seasonal lights are limited to the fifteenth of November (11/15) to the fifteenth of January (1/15). Seasonal lighting shall comply with the zone-required Setbacks and be turned off by 11:00pm. H. Prohibited Lighting. 1. Search lighting, laser source lights, or high intensity lighting except by police and fire personnel or at their discretion. 2. The unshielded or partially shielded outdoor illumination of any building, landscaping, or other purpose, is prohibited. 3. Recreational lighting, sport courts lighting. 4. Unshielded Floodlights, Spotlights. 5. Neon or luminous tube lighting. 6. Up-lighting I. Light Trespass. Light trespass is artificial light that falls beyond the legal boundaries of the property it is intended to illuminate. Outdoor lighting shall be aimed and Fully Shielded so that the direct illumination shall be confined to the property boundaries of the source. J. Lighting Exemptions. 1. Temporary emergency lighting in use by law enforcement, Interlaken Town, or other government agencies or at their direction. 2. Outdoor lighting on facilities and lands owned and operated or protected by the United States Government, the State of Utah, or Wasatch County are exempted by law from all requirements of this Section. Voluntary compliance with the intent of this Chapter at those facilities is encouraged. 3. The Town Council may grant a special exemption to the Town Outdoor lighting requirements contained herein only upon a written finding that there are extreme geographic or geometric conditions warranting the exemption and that there are no conforming fixtures that would suffice. 4. Low-Lumen String lights (does not include Seasonal lighting) that are used to light decks, pergolas, and patios are exempt from shielding requirements and can be used year-round on residential properties. The lights shall not strobe or flash. String lights shall comply with zone-required Setbacks and be turned off by 11:00. K. Lighting Plan. All building permit applications for new construction or remodeling shall include a lighting plan that shows evidence that the proposed lighting fixtures and light sources comply with this chapter. Lighting plans shall include the following: 1. Plans or drawings indicating the proposed location of lighting fixtures, height of lighting fixtures on the premises, and type of illumination devices, lamps, supports, shielding and reflectors used and installation and electrical details. 2. Illustrations, such as contained in a manufacturer’s catalog cuts, of all proposed lighting fixtures. In the event photometric diagrams are not available, the applicant must provide sufficient information regarding the light fixture and shielding mechanisms to be able to determine compliance with the provisions of this chapter. L. Compliance Timeline. a. All outdoor lighting in current use which is not exempted shall conform. This requirement is consistent with previous requirements specified in the “Interlaken Outdoor Lighting Specifications,” adopted on 9/12/16. b. Property owners shall not replace outdoor lighting with non-compliant fixtures.