Victor Lighting Ordinance
The key design provisions of the Victor Lighting Ordinance are the following. The entire ordinance is here
D. General Requirements. All exterior lighting not exempted by E shall meet the
following requirements
1. Exterior Lighting. Exterior lighting shall use fully shielded fixtures.
2. Exterior lighting shall be designed and installed so as to prevent light trespass.
E. Exceptions. This article does not apply to the following applications, except as
provided in this subchapter:
1. Residential fixtures in Residential Districts and Transitional Business Districts
shall conform to the provisions of Section H. of this Chapter
2. Holiday lighting.
3. Emergency Lighting: All temporary emergency lighting needed by the fire and
police departments, or other emergency services.
4. Lighting Of Towers: Lighting of radio, communication and navigation towers;
provided the owner or occupant demonstrates that the federal aviation
administration (FAA) regulations can only be met through the use of lighting that
does not comply with this article.
5. Playing Field Luminaires' height: Luminaires used for playing fields and courts
shall be exempt from the height restrictions of this article provided all other
provisions of this article are met and the light is used only while the field or court
is in use.
6. Lighting for Flags: Lighting for flags provided:
a. the flag is a United States of America or State of Idaho official flag
b. the light is shielded to prevent glare
c. the maximum lumen output is one thousand three hundred (1,300)
lumens.
Downlighting of flags is encouraged.
F. Prohibitions. The following applications are prohibited, unless they are exempted by
1. Flashing, blinking, intermittent lights or other lights that move or give the
impression of movement are prohibited.
2. Searchlights, high intensity floodlights, laser source lights, illusion lights, or
any similar high intensity light are prohibited.
G. Public and Commercial Lights
1. Parking area and other freestanding luminaires: The height of parking area
luminaires shall not exceed twenty feet (20'). Parking area lights are encouraged
to be greater in number, lower in height and lower in lumens, as opposed to fewer
in number, higher in height and higher in lumens. Parking lot lighting shall not
exceed a maximum initial horizontal illuminance of 4.0 foot-candles.
2. Canopy Lights, service station lighting, and outdoor retail areas: All luminaires
mounted on or within the lower surface of a canopy shall be recessed or fully
shielded in-and-of themselves, with flat glass or plastic lenses. Shielding
provided by the surrounding canopy structure or the edge of the canopy is not
sufficient to meet this standard. The illuminance level shall not exceed the levels
in Appendix B of this Chapter.
3. Sign lighting:
a. Externally lit signs shall be illuminated only with steady, stationary,
shielded light sources directed solely onto the sign from above without
causing glare. Lamps used for illuminating a sign shall be simple in form
and should not clutter the building or structure. All light sources should
shine only down.
b. Lights which flash or move in any manner, colored lights, and exterior
neon signs are prohibited.
d. Internally lit signs shall have a dark or opaque background.
4. Streetlights shall be high pressure sodium, unless otherwise determined by the
Planning and Zoning Board that another type is more efficient. Streetlights along
residential streets shall be limited to 70-watt high pressure sodium (hps) light with
maximum rated lamp lumens of six thousand four hundred (6,400). Streetlights
shall have light distributions or "house side shields" that limit lighting of
residences, and will be between 12 - 20 feet in height. Streetlights are
discouraged in areas that are naturally dark.
H. Residential Lights. This section shall apply to residential districts and Transitional
Business Districts.
1. Exterior lighting on residences brighter than a 60 watt incandescent light shall
be shielded so that no light is projected above the horizontal, and the lamp shall
be diffused or shielded so that it can not be seen from public areas or roadways or
any other property.
2. Floodlights: Floodlights are discouraged. Floodlights on residences with
external shielding shall be permitted provided that they are angled so that the
centerline of the light beam is directed below a thirty degree (30°) angle measured
from the vertical line from the center of the light extended to the ground, and only
if the fixture does not cause glare or light to shine on adjacent property or public
rights of way. Motion detector lights are encouraged, but they shall meet the
requirements for floodlights.
I. Operation of Lighting
1. Nonessential Lighting: All nonessential exterior commercial and recreational
lighting shall be turned off after business hours and/or when not in use. Lights on
a timer are encouraged. Sensor activated lights that shut off 5 minutes after
activation ceases are encouraged if lights are needed for security purposes.
The key design provisions of the Victor Lighting Ordinance are the following. The entire ordinance is here
D. General Requirements. All exterior lighting not exempted by E shall meet the
following requirements
1. Exterior Lighting. Exterior lighting shall use fully shielded fixtures.
2. Exterior lighting shall be designed and installed so as to prevent light trespass.
E. Exceptions. This article does not apply to the following applications, except as
provided in this subchapter:
1. Residential fixtures in Residential Districts and Transitional Business Districts
shall conform to the provisions of Section H. of this Chapter
2. Holiday lighting.
3. Emergency Lighting: All temporary emergency lighting needed by the fire and
police departments, or other emergency services.
4. Lighting Of Towers: Lighting of radio, communication and navigation towers;
provided the owner or occupant demonstrates that the federal aviation
administration (FAA) regulations can only be met through the use of lighting that
does not comply with this article.
5. Playing Field Luminaires' height: Luminaires used for playing fields and courts
shall be exempt from the height restrictions of this article provided all other
provisions of this article are met and the light is used only while the field or court
is in use.
6. Lighting for Flags: Lighting for flags provided:
a. the flag is a United States of America or State of Idaho official flag
b. the light is shielded to prevent glare
c. the maximum lumen output is one thousand three hundred (1,300)
lumens.
Downlighting of flags is encouraged.
F. Prohibitions. The following applications are prohibited, unless they are exempted by
1. Flashing, blinking, intermittent lights or other lights that move or give the
impression of movement are prohibited.
2. Searchlights, high intensity floodlights, laser source lights, illusion lights, or
any similar high intensity light are prohibited.
G. Public and Commercial Lights
1. Parking area and other freestanding luminaires: The height of parking area
luminaires shall not exceed twenty feet (20'). Parking area lights are encouraged
to be greater in number, lower in height and lower in lumens, as opposed to fewer
in number, higher in height and higher in lumens. Parking lot lighting shall not
exceed a maximum initial horizontal illuminance of 4.0 foot-candles.
2. Canopy Lights, service station lighting, and outdoor retail areas: All luminaires
mounted on or within the lower surface of a canopy shall be recessed or fully
shielded in-and-of themselves, with flat glass or plastic lenses. Shielding
provided by the surrounding canopy structure or the edge of the canopy is not
sufficient to meet this standard. The illuminance level shall not exceed the levels
in Appendix B of this Chapter.
3. Sign lighting:
a. Externally lit signs shall be illuminated only with steady, stationary,
shielded light sources directed solely onto the sign from above without
causing glare. Lamps used for illuminating a sign shall be simple in form
and should not clutter the building or structure. All light sources should
shine only down.
b. Lights which flash or move in any manner, colored lights, and exterior
neon signs are prohibited.
d. Internally lit signs shall have a dark or opaque background.
4. Streetlights shall be high pressure sodium, unless otherwise determined by the
Planning and Zoning Board that another type is more efficient. Streetlights along
residential streets shall be limited to 70-watt high pressure sodium (hps) light with
maximum rated lamp lumens of six thousand four hundred (6,400). Streetlights
shall have light distributions or "house side shields" that limit lighting of
residences, and will be between 12 - 20 feet in height. Streetlights are
discouraged in areas that are naturally dark.
H. Residential Lights. This section shall apply to residential districts and Transitional
Business Districts.
1. Exterior lighting on residences brighter than a 60 watt incandescent light shall
be shielded so that no light is projected above the horizontal, and the lamp shall
be diffused or shielded so that it can not be seen from public areas or roadways or
any other property.
2. Floodlights: Floodlights are discouraged. Floodlights on residences with
external shielding shall be permitted provided that they are angled so that the
centerline of the light beam is directed below a thirty degree (30°) angle measured
from the vertical line from the center of the light extended to the ground, and only
if the fixture does not cause glare or light to shine on adjacent property or public
rights of way. Motion detector lights are encouraged, but they shall meet the
requirements for floodlights.
I. Operation of Lighting
1. Nonessential Lighting: All nonessential exterior commercial and recreational
lighting shall be turned off after business hours and/or when not in use. Lights on
a timer are encouraged. Sensor activated lights that shut off 5 minutes after
activation ceases are encouraged if lights are needed for security purposes.
