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Visibility by Design

Municipal Sign and Lighting Standards

Issued by the Internatinal Dark Sky Association

In association with:

American Institute of Architects

American Planning Association

National Society Of professional Engineers

Assocation Of Chiefs Of Police

Septed- Security By Design

Illuminating Engineering Society of North America

US Sign Council

Green Building Council

Preamble:


 * 1) Scope. These standards are published to help local municipalities of all sizes enhance mobility for its citizens.

They are set forth in both simplified and elaborated format. The former is for jurisdictions that do not wish to engage in formal ordinance adoption, or where building control is less extensive. These localities can follow these standards as administrative policies in reviewing site plans, building permits, or in contracting for street lighting or dealing with highway departments.

Those jurisdictions who have a formal review process in place may either add these standards to their existing ordinances, or require their planning, zoning, and building review departments to follow the standards, in addition to agencies such as highway departments that operate within their locality..

2. Purpose. Signage and lighting levels have an important function in enabling residents and visitors alike to navigate to their destinations.

There is a proper minimum sign and lettering size, and proper maximums. Too little, and destinations cannot be identified from the desired distance. Too large, and sign clutter results.

Lighting, likewise, has a minimum effective level to make visible what is desired at night. There is also a maximum level above which results in eye fatigue and impaired adaptation or glare which interferes with target visibility.

The goal of lighting where needed and only as needed will greatly reduce glare in the built environment. Glare is light which interferes with, rather than enhances, visibility. Its most common source is unshielded lamps and car headlights. The former can be controlled, the latter generally not.

With proper sign sizing and appropriate lighting, it should be possible to reduce outdoor energy consumption 50% and provide a superior nightscape.

Proper lighting also enhances security.


 * 1) Sign standards


 * 1) Minimum and maximum sign size standards are set forth in Table A.
 * 2) All buildings fronting a public street must have a numbered address designed to be legible from the public street for people with normal vision.
 * 3) Lighting minimums, maximums, choices, and color composition is as shown in Table B.


 * 1) Outdoor lighting.


 * 1) A simplified lighting standard is set forth in Section II. A more elaborate lighting standard is set forth in Section III, which encompasses energy control.

Section II. Simplified Outdoor Lighting Standard.


 * 1) All outdoor lighting shall have proper shielding and be properly mounted.

Definitions:

Outdoor lighting means all light sources mounted outside the physical walls of buildings.

Proper shielding means that there shall be an opaque surface surrounding the lamp so that no part of the lamp or its illuminated refractive housing protrudes below the opaque surface of the shield.

Proper mounting means that the fixture and its opaque shield shall be

mounted horizontal to the ground. Floodlight or titled orientation shall not be permitted, except for façade, flagpole, and landscaping applications (see below)..

Canopy lighting, as with retail gas stations, is covered by Section B.

Pole mounted decorative lighting is permitted only in designated historic districts and according to standards set forth in Section C.

Energy conservation limits, if imposed, are set forth in Section D.

These standards shall apply to all outdoor lighting installed after the effective date of this ordinance, whether in new construction or by retrofit.

Exceptions:


 * 1) Residential lighting below 60 watts of energy input or 2,000 lumens of light output.
 * 2) Globes or sconces with less than a 2,000 lumen source or less

than a 1,500 candela per s.m. surface brightness.


 * 1) Temporary lighting for new construction or highway maintenance.
 * 2) Seasonal and temporary decorative lighting.
 * 3) The following areas require special treatment and it is suggested that a professional lighting designer be retained to handle individual applications, in accordance with these guidelines:
 * 4) Façade lighting (Section E).
 * 5) Roadway lighting (Section F).