A.  Applicability

1.   These regulations apply to all development in the City and County that is subject to any kind of site or development plan.  (PD, PBG, PUD, Mixed-Use Development Plans, Industrial Site Plan, Parking Lot Landscape Plan, etc). 

Any addition, exterior revisions or a change in use that requires any type of site plan or landscape review will be subject to the regulations, as defined under the Exception For Existing Facilities Sections.

2.   Exceptions:

a.   Development under 10,000 square feet not subject to a landscape review and residential porches and path lights under 800 lumens will be exempt from all but the glare requirements of these regulations However, residential security and landscape lighting will be governed by these regulations.  Seasonal holiday lighting temporary or seasonal uses and signage are also exempt from these regulations.

b.   Lighting mandated by the Federal Aviation Administration

c.   Roadway lighting at Denver International Airport .

B.    Lighting Zones

1.   Definition of Lighting Zones

Lighting zones have been developed based on the Environmental Zones adopted by the Illuminating Engineering Society of North America.  These zones, L-1 through L-4, establish areas of intrinsically dark, low, medium and high ambient brightness that set the vision for lighting standards within each zone. 

a.      Lighting Zone L-1: Areas of intrinsic darkness pertain to natural areas with significant wildlife habitat and would have no added illumination except where needed for nighttime safety.  Boundaries for Lighting Zone 1 are limited to the established boundaries of the parcels or corridors indicated on the lighting zone map.

b.      Lighting Zone L-2: Areas of low ambient brightness include all residential neighborhoods as well as small scale business or retail uses not located on major commercial corridors.  Requirements in this lighting zone are especially sensitive to the close proximity of residential uses.  Lighting Zone 2 consists of all land within the City and County of Denver not specifically identified as Lighting Zone 1, 3 or 4.

c.       Lighting Zone L-3:  Areas of medium ambient brightness pertains to the major commercial corridors throughout the city.  Lighting requirements are compatible with a commercial environment, while still being responsive to adjacent residential uses. Lighting Zone 3 is limited to the legal descriptions of properties bordering on the streets indicated on the lighting zone map or land contained within the areas shown on the map.

d.      Lighting Zone L-4:  Areas of high ambient brightness are limited to downtown Denver, which is the area with maximum nighttime pedestrian activity and mixed uses.  Lighting Zone 4 roughly corresponds to the B-5 zone district. There is more flexibility to accommodate the higher intensity of uses and nighttime activities within downtown Denver.

2.  Determining the lighting zone for a given project

The lighting zone is determined by the designation of the adjacent street or streets as indicated on the Lighting Zone Map on page 11.  For example, properties fronting onto streets designated as Lighting Zone 3 are within Lighting Zone 3.  However, properties within the B-5 zone district are in Lighting Zone 4 no matter the designation of the adjacent street.  See Lighting Zone Map on page 8

For properties with multiple street frontages, the lighting zone is determined by the lighting zone designation of the principal street fronting the site.  For example, a project on the corner of a commercial arterial (Lighting Zone 3) and a residential collector (Lighting Zone 2) would be in Lighting Zone 3 if the development’s principal frontage is onto the commercial arterial street.

C.  Terms and Definitions

1  Glare: The sensation produced when a source of light in excess of 800 lumens is directly visible or light that is so bright that is causes annoyance, discomfort, or loss in visual performance.

2. Light Trespass: Light, glare or excessive brightness generated in one zone lot that shines onto adjacent zone lots or the public right-of-way.

3. Fixture Types

a.   Full-Cutoff Fixture:  A fixture designed so that no light is distributed above a line horizontal  with the lens

b. Cutoff Fixture: A fixture designed so that a maximum of 2.5% of the total lamp luminance is distributed above a line horizontal with the lens

c. Semi-Cut-off Fixture: A fixture designed so that a maximum of 5% of the total lamp luminance is distributed above a line horizontal with the lens

d  Non Cut-off Fixtures:  A fixture with does not control the horizontal distribution of luminance.   Non-cutoff fixtures may be aimed upward as allowed in the regulations

4.   Measurements of Light or Brightness

a. Illuminance:  The amount of light falling on a surface—measured in lux (lx) or foot-candles (fc)

b. Footcandle:  A measure of light falling on a given surface.  One footcandle is equal to the amount of light generated by one candle shining on a square foot surface one foot away.  Footcandles can be measured both horizontally and vertically by a footcandle or light meter.

c. Lumen:  A measure of light energy generated by a light source.  Manufacturers list a lumen rating for all their lamps

d. Initial Burn: The light levels (lumens and/or footcandles) of a new lamp with no reduction in light  levels for age or dirt.  Initial burn has a light loss factor of 1.0.

e. Light Loss Factor (llf):  A percentage of reduction in the lumens or footcandles of a lamp to accommodate the light lost due to age and dirt.

f.  Maximum light level: The brightest point of light on the surface to be illuminated

g. Minimum light level: The dimmest point of light on the surface to be illuminated.

h. Mounting Height: The vertical distance between the surface to be illuminated and the bottom of the light source.  Typically in outdoor lighting, the distance between the ground and the lens or bottom of the fixture.

D. Organization of Regulations

Requirements
Requirements are established to control glare, off-site impacts and energy conservation by limiting fixture type, light levels and brightness, mounting heights, establishing maximum light trespass levels, and requiring a reduction in light levels after the close of business.  Requirements use the words “must” or “shall” and must be met for a development to be approved.

Performance Standards and Guidelines
Standards and guidelines provide additional guidance in the development of safe, sustainable and compatible lighting.  The objectives and performance requirements are listed under three headings for each review issue:  Intent, Standards and Guidelines.  Descriptions of each are as follows:

Intent
Intent statements define the goals which the standards and guidelines have been created to achieve.  In circumstances where the appropriateness or applicability of a standard or guideline is in question or under negotiation, the intent statement will serve to provide additional direction.

Standards
Performance standards provide specific direction based on the stated intent.  Standards use the terms “shall” or “will” to indicate that compliance is required unless it can be demonstrated that an acceptable alternative meets one or more of the following conditions:

§  An alternative better achieves the stated intent;

§  The intent for which the standard was created to address will not be achieved by application of the standard in a particular circumstance; or

§  Unique factors make the standard impractical or cost prohibitive.

Guidelines
Guidelines reinforce the objectives defined by the intent statements.  Guidelines use the terms “should” or “may” to denote that they are considered relevant to achieving the stated intent, and will be pertinent to the review process but will not be required for approval.  Guidelines will, however, be strongly considered when the standards are not used.

E.   Review Process

Lighting is reviewed as part of the site, development or landscape plan review process.  All required information shall be included in that submittal.

Lighting Submittal Requirements

1.   Include the following on all applications and/or review documents

a.       Light Zone

b.       Street classification of adjacent streets per Public Works street classification

c.       Note stating that light levels will be reduced by __% at __________time in accordance with the hours of full illumination criteria on page 19.

d.       Manufacturer’s cut sheet or scaled drawing of all fixture that includes:

                                                    i.      Fixture type (full-cutoff, cutoff, semi-cutoff, non-cutoff)

                                                    ii.      Mounting Height

e.       Light Fixture Schedule to include:

                                                   i.      Fixture model number

                                                   ii.      Lamp wattage

                                                   iii.      Initial lumens per lamp

                                                   iv.      Number of lamps per fixture

                                                   v.      Number of fixtures per assemblage (i.e. per pole)

f.         Spacing between fixtures

2.       Show location of all non-building mounted lighting on the site and landscape plan

3.        Show location of all building mounted lights on the building elevations

4.       Point by Point photometric plan shall be required for all plans containing surface parking lots, point of service canopies and awnings, outdoor sales or display and security, loading or storage lighting and shall be constructed based on:

a.       Light levels (footcandle measurements) for all pole or building mounted lights used to illuminate surface parking lots, point of service canopies and awnings, outdoor sales or display and security, loading or storage within the areas to be illuminated (but not including unlit open-space or landscaping and the area occupied by structures)

b.       All light levels must be initial burn (light loss factor of 1.0)

c.       Grid shall be constructed on  ten (10) foot centers and must include the brightest point under at least one fixture.

d.       All light levels are to be a horizontal footcandle measurement at grade unless otherwise defined within this document.

e.       Light levels at property lines within ten (10) feet of an illuminated area

f.         Maximum, minimum and average light levels within the illuminated area

4.       Chart showing allowable lumens for architectural accent and entry lighting

F.  Verification of Compliance

1. At the time a Certificate of Occupancy is requested, all development shall be inspected for compliance with the approved site or development plan.  Inspectors will confirm that the lamp type and wattage; fixture design, location and mounting height are consistent with the approved plan.  Light level reading may be taken if the lighting was not constructed as approved, if there appears to be excessive or uneven lighting or if a complaint has been made.

2.  Complaints regarding lack of compliance with these regulations can be made to the Neighborhood Inspection Services section of Community Planning and Development.

G.    Appeals

If the requirements of this document cannot be met, the site or development plan will be denied.  Denials may be appealed to the Board of Adjustment.

H.  Relationship to other Documents

Small Area and Neighborhood Plans, Design Guidelines or Historic District Guidelines and requirements of other agencies may also contain lighting standards or guidelines.  Whenever possible, the requirements in this document shall govern while still meeting the intent or goal of other documents.  In the case of a conflict, the most restrictive regulations will govern.

Requirements

A. Lighting Categories

1.  Surface Parking Lots and Drive Aisles : Parking lots serving a specific use and independent parking lots open to the public.

2.  Private Roads or Private Alleys: Roads and/or alleys serving private property and not dedicated to the City.

3.  Parking Structures: Structured parking lots with open, or partially open sides where light is visible off site.

4.  Point of Service Canopies or Awnings : A canopy or awning over an area where a cash transaction takes place including, but not limited to, a canopy over gas fueling pumps, drive through banking facilities or the awning at a drive-up window.

5.  Outdoor Sales and Display: Outdoor Sales and Display includes any location where outdoor sales occurs that requires lighting over and above the base parking lot lighting, including, but not limited to, automotive sales and outdoor garden centers.

a.  Areas with an outdoor sales area will be defined as:

i.   Sales Stock:  The remainder of the sales area

ii.    Sales Display:  An area that does not exceed 20% of the total sales or stock area or the area required to feature 20% of the stock, whichever is less.

iii.  Feature Display:  An area equal to 10% of the Sales Display area or the area needed to display one car allowed only in Lighting Zones 3 & 4.  Cars in this area may be lit with carefully aimed and shielded non-cutoff fixtures, providing the lamp is not visible off site and light trespass limits are met at all property lines.

iv.  Customer Parking, Loading, Service and Storage:  The area of the site used for these services

6. Pedestrian Circulation Lighting: Lighting used to illuminate or define a pedestrian route including, but not limited to, pole mounted fixtures, illuminated bollards and step or path lights over 2,400 lumens. 

7. Security, Storage or Loading Lighting

8. All lighting used to illuminate loading and outdoor storage, lights at emergency exit doors, and lights added to a facility specifically to enhance security, including, but not limited to, lighting required for security cameras and residential lights used specifically for security or alley facing residential garage lights.Architectural Accent Lighting

Lighting used to enhance or reinforce the design concept for a site or building by highlighting specific architectural or landscape elements, lighting at building entries, and/or lighting of specific religious or cultural symbols. Accent lighting does not include illuminating or washing a building façade. 

a.   Types of architectural accent lighting are defined as:

i. Accent Lighting:  Lighting used to illuminate or accentuate an architectural feature, a specific religious or cultural symbol or lighting used for decoration such as external wall sconces.

ii. Entry Lighting:  Lighting used to define and illuminate an entry to a building, but not lighting used to provide safe light levels at an emergency exit or loading door (see security lighting)

iii. Landscape Lighting:  Lighting aimed into landscaping that either accentuates a design concept or adds to the circulation or security of a site.

iv.  Up-lighting:  Lighting aimed to illuminate a specific religious or cultural symbol or architectural element as allowed within this document

8.   Outdoor Recreational Facilities

Outdoor recreational facilities fall into one of three categories—each with specific lighting needs:

Category 1: Local recreational facilities (tennis courts, swimming pools, golf courses, putt-putt golf, etc) serving a private development, community center or local park.

Category 2:  Playing Fields including parks and high school playing fields and park facilities.

Category 3:  Professional and Collegiate playing fields or large-scale outdoor entertainment facilities such as amusement parks including, but not limited to, Invesco Field, Coors Field, Six Flags Elitches Gardens and playing fields and stadiums at Denver University, the Auraria Campus and Regis University.

B.  Lumen Allowance for Architectural Accent & Entry Lighting

Architectural Accent  and Entry lighting  is based on an allowance of lumens per building face.  The allowance may be used in any location on the appropriate face of the building.   Unused lumen may NOT be transferred to another entry or face of the building.

1. Calculating the lumen allowance for architectural accent lighting

a. In lighting zones 2 & 3, the allowance (A) is defined as lumens per linear foot (l.l.f.) of building face per the chart on page 18.  Multiply the maximum allowable lumens for the lighting zone by the width of building.  [A=width x l.l.f.]

b. In Lighting Zone 4, the accent lighting allowance is based on lumens per square foot (l.s.f.) of building face per the chart on page 18.  Multiply the width of the building face by the height of the building by the allowable lumens per square foot.   [A=width x height x l.s.f.]

2.  Entry Lighting and lighting for outdoor seating is based on a lumen allowance per entry width.  The entry width is defined as the width of the entry plus three (3) feet on each side.

Standard Entry            Entry for retail over 50,000 sq. ft.          Outdoor seating

 C. Allowable Fixtures