350-12.2 Residential (2)350-12.2 C.
Standards. Any use permitted by zoning either by right or through any type of zoning relief in any district
shall conform to the following lighting standards. All outdoor light fixtures and illuminated signs for all
uses and structures within the City of Northampton shall be designed, located, installed and directed in
such a manner as to prevent measurable light at the property lines and glare at any location on or off
the property. If necessary, an applicant may need to provide photometric plans and/or manufacturing
specification sheets to show conformance with these standards. This standard shall be met through the
following:
(1) All outdoor lighting shall have full cutoff-type fixtures (See below.) Cutoffs shall shield bulbs from
visibility and may consist of internal baffles or reflectors or external panels or other mechanisms.
(a) General site lighting shall not exceed 90º, the horizontal plane of bottom of lamp fixture. No
uplighting is allowed; parking, security and aesthetic lighting must shine downward.
(b) Spotlights used to illuminate buildings, signs or specific site amenities/features shall be targeted on
such objects so as to prevent direct uplighting. Cutoffs shall limit lighting to a forty-five-degree angle
above the horizontal plane.
(c) Upward search or spotlighting of the sky for entertainment or advertising purposes is prohibited.
(2) Lighting shall be shielded to prevent direct glare and light trespass and shall be contained to the
target area to the extent feasible. See below for examples of appropriate fixtures.
(a) Luminaires with no cutoff fixture used for mixed use or nonresidential uses may be allowed through
a site plan approval from the Planning Board only when it is shown that a low-level wattage (800 lumens
or less) is to be used, no glare will be present on streets or on adjoining properties and standards in
Subsection C (6) below will be met. This may be appropriate for decorative purpose within
neighborhoods or the Central Business or General Business Districts.
(b) Lights or luminaires without cutoffs may be used on or around residential structures if bulbs used
do not exceed one-hundred-watt incandescent or the equivalent fluorescent (not to exceed twenty-five-
watt) or other type bulb and light glare will not be directed off site.
(6)
Site Average1
(footcandle)
NA
1
2
2.5
1
NOTES:
1 Standard for averaging as established by the Illuminating Engineering Society of North America.
The Building Commissioner shall determine if light levels are being met. Based on this assessment, the property
owner shall replace or modify fixtures to achieve compliance.
Maximum
HB 5 0
GI and OI 3 0
URA/URB/URC 3 0
GB/EB/NB/CB/PV 5 0
Zoning District (footcandle)Footcandle at
Property Line
RR/SR/SC 0.8 0