Light Nuisances - Ambient Light, Light Pollution, Glare
Contents
Light Pollution
Light pollution includes misdirected light, stray light, avoidable reflected light, light during hours when it is not needed, and light levels in excess of what is necessary for the task. According to the Illuminating Engineering Society of America, light trespass complaints can usually be classified into two categories: unwanted light illuminating an area or property and excessive brightness in the normal field of vision. Outdoor lighting can be designed to minimize obtrusive and stray light. Light pollution affects wildlife in undeveloped natural habitat areas and the use and enjoyment of property. It also interferes with astronomy and it wastes energy.
From Cutting Down on Light Pollution, New Jersey Municipalities, 03/1997
Glare
Problems of glare from building reflections are generally regulated through building and zoning codes. For new development, the SEPA Checklist (WAC 197-11-960) at Environmental Element (11) covers light and glare and includes the questions: What type of light or glare will the proposal produce? Could light or glare from the finished project be a safety hazard or interfere with views? What existing off-site sources of light or glare may affect your proposal? Proposed measures to reduce or control light and glare impacts, if any.
Ordinance Provisions
- Model Ordinance, International Dark-Sky Association and the Illuminating Engineering Society of North America
- Bellevue Land Use Code Sec. 20.20.522 - Light and Glare
- Bainbridge Island
- Bainbridge Island Ordinance No. 2002-15 (
), passed 08/2002 - Adds Ch. 15.34 to the municipal code, Outdoor Lighting on Public and Private Property
- Bainbridge Island Outdoor Lighting Handbook ()
- Bainbridge Island Ordinance No. 2002-15 (
- Benton City Municipal Code Ch. 12.08 (
) - Outdoor Lighting
- Bothell Ordinance No. 2055 () - Exterior Lighting Code Amendments - Includes City Council Findings, Conclusions, and Action
- Brier Municipal Code Sec. 18.08.150 () - Light and Glare (Bottom of page 13)
- Burlington Municipal Code Sec. 17.48.020 - Light and Glare (Performance Standards)
- Enumclaw Municipal Code Sec. 19.22.020 - Industrial and Exterior Lighting
- Goldendale Municipal Code Ch. 15.52 - Outdoor Lighting Fixtures
- Island County
- Island County Zoning Code Sec. 17.03.180(R) () - Signage and Outdoor Lighting Standards
- Working Together to Preserve Rural Character and the Night Sky () - Island County Planning Brochure
- Island County Zoning Code Sec. 17.03.180(R) (
- Kelso Municipal Code Sec. 8.24.050 (Z) - Types of enumerated nuisances .... (Z) The existence of any flood or display lighting unless used and constructed so as to not unduly illuminate the surrounding properties and not create a traffic hazard. Lighting maintained by the city on public rights-of-way and lighting of athletic fields are exempt from this provision.
- Kennewick Municipal Code Ch. 18.39 () - Outdoor Lighting
- Lake Forest Park Municipal Code Sec. 16.06.140 () - Light and Glare
- Lynnwood Municipal Code Sec. 17.05.110 - Light and Glare
- Mountlake Terrace Municipal Code Sec. 19.120.030 - Artificial Light and Glare
- Oak Harbor Municipal Code Sec. 20.14.060 - Light and Glare
- Pasco Municipal Code Ch. 12.32 () - Outdoor Lighting
- Tumwater Outdoor Lighting Regulations
Athletic Field Lighting
- Design Standards for Athletic Field Lighting (), Seattle Parks and Recreation, 09/2003
- Juggling Performance vs. Pollution When It Comes to Sports Field Lighting, by Mitch Martin, Recreation Management, 02/2003
- Neighborly Night Lights: Ball Fields that Don't Spill the Beams, by Sharon Colley, American City and County, 04/01/2000
- Seeing the Light: Parks and Recreation Departments Nationally Are Updating Their Lighting Systems to Reflect the Publics Growing Concern Toward Light Pollution, by Maya Avrasin, Parks and Recreation, 10/2003 - via Find Articles
- Sports Lighting Sec. 5.02 in Outdoor Lighting Code Handbook (), International Dark-Sky Association, 2000
- 2010 Little League Lighting Standards and Safety Audit ()
Information Resources
- The Illuminating Engineering Society of North America - Publishes standards for lighting, including sports and recreational lighting, parking lot lighting, and roadway lighting
- International Dark-Sky Association - The IDA is concerned with adverse environmental impact on dark skies by building awareness of the problem of light pollution and of the solutions, and to educate everyone about the value and effectiveness of quality nighttime lighting.
- New England Light Pollution Advisory Group - A volunteer group founded for the purpose of educating the public on the virtues of efficient, glare-free outdoor night lighting (and the benefits of no lighting at all for many outdoor applications)
- Outdoor Lighting (), Design Review Guide, Burlington, Vermont Planning
- Let There Be Light, American Planning Association, Planning Magazine, 03/2004 (Available through MRSC Library Loan)
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