Lighting Regulations in Aurora, Indiana: Balancing Historic Character with Safety Requirements

Introduction

Nestled along the Ohio River, the city of Aurora, Indiana has been shining since its founding in 1819. Named after the Roman goddess of dawn, this small city of just over 3,700 residents takes great pride in its beautifully preserved 19th-century architecture, particularly in the Downtown Aurora Historic District.

Aurora's lighting regulations reflect the community's dual commitment to preserving its rich architectural heritage while ensuring safety and functionality for residents and visitors. These carefully crafted guidelines help maintain the historical character that makes Aurora special while accommodating modern lighting needs.

Whether you're a property owner, business operator, or simply interested in understanding how Aurora maintains its unique charm after dark, this guide will illuminate the key lighting regulations that shape this historic riverside community.

Quick Reference Guide

• Historic District Requirements:
• Internally illuminated signs are prohibited in the Downtown Historic District
• Light fixtures on historic buildings may only be altered in ways that preserve historic character
• Monument/freestanding signs may only use external illumination
• Colored lights are prohibited for certain signs
• Safety Requirements:
• Street obstructions and excavations must be marked with lights from dusk until dawn
• Removing or tampering with safety lighting is prohibited
• Exterior lighting on certain businesses must enable visual monitoring
• Sign Illumination:
• Many signs may only be externally illuminated, if at all
• Sign lighting must not exceed 0.3 footcandles above ambient lighting
• Light must not cause glare on public streets or neighboring properties
• Sign illumination must be of constant intensity, changing no more than once every 8 seconds
• Prohibited Lighting:
• Flashing, intermittent, rotating, or moving lights
• Skyward lights, search lights, or beacons
• Strings of lights not permanently mounted (with some exceptions)

Historic Preservation & Lighting

Preserving Aurora's Architectural Heritage

Aurora's Downtown Historic District showcases well-preserved 19th-century architecture that gives the city its distinctive character. The lighting regulations for this area are designed specifically to maintain this historic ambiance while providing necessary illumination.

Restrictions on Historic Properties

Historic buildings and structures in Aurora, including their light fixtures, may only be altered in ways that preserve their historic architectural character. This requirement ensures that modern lighting additions don't detract from the authentic appearance of these treasured buildings.

Sign Illumination in Historic Areas

In the Downtown Historic District, internally illuminated signs are expressly prohibited. Instead, the regulations permit only external illumination for monument/freestanding signs and wall-mounted signs, reinforcing the district's historic atmosphere.

For these externally lit signs, colored lights are not permitted. Light sources must be designed and installed to avoid creating glare on public streets or neighboring properties.

Safety and Construction Lighting Requirements

Construction and Excavation Lighting

Safety is a top priority in Aurora's lighting regulations, particularly for construction areas. Any excavation or opening in city streets or alleys must be:

• Properly barricaded and protected
• Marked with danger lights before dark each evening
• Illuminated continuously from dusk until dawn

Obstruction Marking

Any obstruction placed in streets, alleys, or sidewalks must be marked throughout the night with lights bright enough to alert pedestrians and drivers to potential hazards. This simple requirement helps prevent accidents and injuries.

Protection of Safety Lighting

Aurora takes its safety lighting seriously. City regulations make it unlawful for unauthorized persons to:

• Remove any danger light
• Interfere with safety barricades
• Break or displace warning lights placed near excavations or obstructions

Sign Illumination Standards

General Requirements

Aurora's sign regulations include specific guidelines for illumination:

• Signs must be at least seven and one-half feet above the sidewalk at their lowest point
• Window signs covering up to 30% of the window area may only use neon or external illumination
• Light directed toward signs must be shielded or recessed to illuminate only the sign face
• Illumination must not shine directly onto public rights-of-way or sidewalks

Brightness and Timing Restrictions

To prevent light pollution and distractions, Aurora regulates the intensity and timing of illuminated signs:

• Night-time brightness must not exceed 0.3 footcandles above ambient lighting
• Sign illumination must be of constant intensity
• Messages or displays may change no more than once every 8 seconds
• Flashing, intermittent, rotating, or moving lights are prohibited

Sign Types and Illumination Permissions

Different sign types have specific illumination requirements:

• Monument/freestanding signs: May use external illumination only
• Wall-mounted signs: May use external illumination only
• Projecting signs: May use external illumination only
• Awning or canopy signs: Illumination is prohibited
• Blade signs: Illumination is prohibited

Special Use Lighting Requirements

Business-Specific Requirements

Some businesses in Aurora have additional lighting requirements:

• Sexually oriented businesses must provide exterior lighting for visual monitoring
• Interior premises must have overhead lighting fixtures of sufficient intensity to illuminate all areas
• Multi-family dwellings must have light switches, electrical outlets, and other controls in accessible locations

Telecommunications Facilities

Aurora's regulations address lighting for telecommunications infrastructure:

• Towers should not exceed heights that would require artificial lighting
• If lighting is required by regulations, it must be as unobtrusive as possible
• Applicants must provide visual representations showing light effects on neighboring structures within 1,500 feet

What Property Owners Should Know

Planning Requirements

When submitting plans for development in Aurora, property owners should be aware that lighting details are required:

• Site plans must include locations of site lighting fixtures
• Plans should show parking lot and driveway lights and their illumination areas
• Details about sign illumination methods must be included in applications
• Homeowners association agreements may need to address street lighting maintenance

Using Natural Buffers

Aurora encourages the use of natural elements to minimize light pollution:

• Landscaping and existing woodlands should be used as buffers
• These natural screens help prevent lighting from affecting adjoining residential areas

Prohibited Lighting Types

Property owners should be aware that several lighting types are expressly prohibited:

• Skyward lights, search lights, and beacons
• Lights that project beams skyward or in circular patterns
• Strings of lights not permanently mounted (with some holiday exceptions)
• Signs with rotating, swinging, or moving illumination

Supporting Aurora's Lighting Vision

Bock Lighting, with roots dating back to 1918, understands the delicate balance that communities like Aurora strive to maintain between preserving historic character and meeting modern lighting needs.

As a regional manufacturer with deep appreciation for historic architecture, we recognize Aurora's commitment to maintaining its 19th-century charm while ensuring safety and functionality through thoughtful lighting regulations.

Our experience working with communities that value their architectural heritage has shown us that lighting plays a crucial role in defining the character of historic districts after dark. Aurora's careful approach to regulating illumination helps preserve the authentic atmosphere that makes the Downtown Historic District so special.

Bock Lighting shares Aurora's commitment to responsible lighting practices that respect community character and historic preservation. Our focus on education and understanding of regional architectural styles allows us to serve as a resource for communities navigating the balance between preservation and modern lighting needs.

Conclusion

Aurora's lighting regulations reflect the city's dedication to preserving its historic character while ensuring safety and functionality. By carefully regulating illumination types, intensity, and placement, the city maintains its distinctive charm after dark.

Property owners, businesses, and residents all benefit from these thoughtful guidelines that help prevent light pollution while providing necessary illumination. The special attention given to the Downtown Historic District ensures that Aurora's architectural treasures continue to shine in their best light.

Whether you're planning a new sign, renovating a historic property, or simply curious about Aurora's approach to lighting, understanding these regulations helps support the community's vision for a beautifully illuminated city that honors its past while embracing the future.