Changes To Outdoor Lighting Limits Under Consideration

FAIRFAX COUNTY, VA -- The Fairfax County Planning Commission will be voting on a proposed zoning ordinance amendment Wednesday, Jan. 15, at 7:30 p.m., that would change outdoor lighting standards across the county. The changes would affect the color temperatures for all light fixtures, including residential, according to the county staff report.

"We wanted to address the expanded use of LED bulbs and color temperature," said Crystal Santos with Office of Public Affair. "Additionally, there were changes to the previous glare standards that staff thought should be updated to meet community needs today."

Color temperature refers to the color aspect of light. Lighting fixtures in the lower ranges, from 1,000 to 3,000 kelvins, are referred to as "warm." A typical incandescent bulb gives off 2,600 kelvins. Lighting fixtures in higher ranges, over 5,000 kelvins, give off bluish white light and are referred to as "cool." LED bulbs come in a variety of color temperatures, including the cool range.

"The higher color temperatures are associated with increased energy usage, glare, and impacts on human health and wildlife, as compared to lower color temperatures," says the county staff report. "Among other impacts, the 'whiter' lighting can result in harsh glare, potentially damaging the eye and affecting safety, and can impact human circadian rhythm,"

The proposed amendment seeks to set the maximum color temperature for outdoor lighting to 3,000 kelvins, which is consistent with a recently adopted amendment to the Public Facilities Manual for street lights. It's also in line with recommendations from the International Dark-Sky Association and the American Medical Association.

The amendment includes several exceptions to this change. The first is in regard to sports fields and courts that are governed by a sports illumination plan. The amendment recommends that the maximum color temperature for such facilities would be 5,700 kelvins.

County staff also recommends that the hours of operation for lighted outdoor playing fields or courts on single family residential properties be revised from the current time of 11 p.m. to 10 p.m. to better conform with the Fairfax County Noise Ordinance. This change would only affect playing fields on private outdoor facilities subject to a sports illumination plan. This would not affect school fields or fields operated by youth organizations or the Fairfax County Park Authority.

The second exception concerns lots that are developed for single-family dwellings with lighting that is shielded and intended to illuminate aspects of the property, such as a flag or landscaping features. In those cases, the lighting is limited to 2,000 lumens with no limit to the number, location or orientation of the lighting. However, the fixtures must meet the requirements for being full cut-off and mounted horizontally toward the ground.

Single family dwellings with motion-activated security lights are also exempt from all requirements, provided the fixtures don't cause disability glare. Current standards require the fixtures are limited to 6,000 lumens, must turn off within 5 minutes and are positioned so they are not visible 5 feet above the property line. In the interest of further reducing glare, county staff recommends setting the new maximum brightness at 4,000 lumens, which is about the equivalent of 267 watts from an incandescent bulb.

"If adopted, these changes will significantly reduce unwanted glare," said Santos. "Fortunately, the LED bulbs which meet the color temperature requirements being proposed are readily available. The new requirement will only kick in as property owners replace bulbs or light fixtures outside."

If the Planning Commission approves the amendment, it will go on to the Board of Supervisors for consideration at upcoming meeting.