Zoning Administration Division
Department of Planning and Zoning
12055 Government Center Parkway
Fairfax, Virginia 22035
703-324-1314, TTY 711

June 19, 2003
03-14

Outdoor Lighting Standards

On June 16, 2003, the Board of Supervisors adopted the Outdoor Lighting Standards Zoning Ordinance Amendment, thereby replacing the previous glare standards in Article 14 of the Zoning Ordinance. This amendment became effective on 12:01 a.m. on June 17, 2003, and the following are grandfathered from the provisions of this amendment:

1. Special permits, special exceptions, proffered rezonings, or development plans accepted prior to the effective date of this amendment that contain specific conditions that conflict with the provisions of this amendment.
   
   
2. Building and site plans submitted on or before the effective date of this amendment, provided such plans are (a) approved within 12 months of the return of the initial submission to the applicant or agent, (b) the plan remains valid, (c) a building permit(s) for the structure(s) shown on the approved plan is issued and (d) the structures and uses that are constructed in accordance with such building permits.

The amendment contains provisions that are broadly applicable, while other provisions are more specific in nature. All walkway, parking lot, canopy and building/mounted lighting are required to use full cut-off lighting fixtures, as that term is now defined in the Zoning Ordinance. Other general provisions address architectural and landscaping lighting, open-sided parking structures, sign illumination, height and location requirements, curfew restrictions and construction lighting. Additional lighting standards and requirements are applicable to canopies at service stations and service station/mini-marts, display areas for vehicle sale, rental and ancillary service establishments and certain sized lighted fields for outdoor recreation/sports facilities. These additional standards require the submission of either a photometric plan or sports illumination plan as part of a special exception, development plan or rezoning application, and as part of a site plan submission or as a separate submission. Furthermore, information pertaining to the location, height and style of light poles is now required as part of a site plan submission.

More information regarding outdoor lighting requirements can be found online or by calling 703-324-1314, TTY 711.