Lighting Regulations in Crestwood, Illinois: A Comprehensive Guide to Outdoor Illumination Standards

Introduction

Nestled in Cook County with a population of approximately 11,251, Crestwood, Illinois has developed a distinct suburban character while maintaining convenient access to Chicago's urban amenities. Though not as historically rich as other Illinois communities, Crestwood's mid-century development has shaped a village that values practicality, efficiency, and fiscal responsibility.

This pragmatic approach extends to Crestwood's lighting regulations, which strike a balance between ensuring public safety, preserving the village's suburban character, and promoting energy efficiency. These regulations reflect the community's commitment to responsible development while maintaining the quality of life that residents value.

Quick Reference Guide

• Full Cutoff Requirement: Fixtures must be designed so no light is emitted at or above horizontal plane
• Maximum Height: 20 feet for full-cutoff fixtures, 16 feet for non-full-cutoff fixtures (when approved)
• Commercial Parking: Maximum 3.6 footcandles average illuminance with 20:1 max-to-min ratio
• Light Trespass: Maximum one-tenth vertical footcandle on adjacent residential property
• Business Hours: Lighting must be extinguished within 30 minutes after business closes
• After-Hours Lighting: Limited to 33% of normal business hours intensity
• Underground Wiring: Required for all pole-mounted fixtures

Purpose and Applicability

Why These Regulations Exist

Crestwood's lighting regulations serve multiple important purposes:

• Providing adequate lighting in public spaces to ensure health and safety
• Protecting drivers and pedestrians from disabling glare
• Shielding neighbors and the night sky from nuisance lighting
• Promoting energy efficiency in lighting design and operation
• Preserving Crestwood's suburban character

When the Regulations Apply

These lighting standards apply to:

• Commercial, industrial, public recreational, and institutional developments
• Multi-family residential developments
• Single-family developments with lot sizes of 20,000 square feet or less where on-street parking is permitted
• Any uses that operate during hours of darkness with public assembly or traverse

Glare control requirements apply universally to all lighting installations including signs, architectural features, landscapes, recreational areas, and residential properties.

Exemptions

Temporary seasonal or decorative lighting is exempt from all requirements except glare control, unless a safety issue is identified.

Technical Lighting Requirements

Illumination Levels

Crestwood has established specific illumination standards for different areas:

• Streets:
• Commercial: 0.9 average footcandles, 6:1 uniformity ratio
• Residential: 0.4 average footcandles, 6:1 uniformity ratio
• Parking Areas:
• High activity commercial: Maximum 3.6 footcandles average
• Multi-family residential (low activity): 0.2 minimum footcandles, 4:1 uniformity ratio
• Multi-family residential (medium activity): 0.6 minimum footcandles, 4:1 uniformity ratio
• Commercial/Industrial Parking:
• High activity areas: 0.9 minimum footcandles, 4:1 uniformity ratio
• Medium activity areas: 0.6 minimum footcandles, 4:1 uniformity ratio
• Low activity areas: 0.2 minimum footcandles, 4:1 uniformity ratio
• Other Areas:
• Commercial sidewalks: 1.0 average footcandles, 5:1 uniformity ratio
• Residential sidewalks: 0.5 average footcandles, 5:1 uniformity ratio
• Commercial building entrances: 5.0 average footcandles
• Service station pump islands: 10.0 average footcandles, 4:1 uniformity ratio
• Car dealership front row: 20 maximum footcandles, 5:1 uniformity ratio

Fixture Requirements

Full Cutoff Definition: A lighting fixture that emits no light at or above a horizontal plane through the bottom of the fixture and no more than 10% of light within 10 degrees below that plane.

• Horizontal Surface Lighting: Fixtures must be aimed straight down and meet zero at lot line requirements
• Non-Horizontal Surface Lighting: Must use aiming/redirecting devices such as shields, visors, or baffles
• Shielding: All fixtures must be shielded so the bottom edge is below the light source
• Canopy Lighting: Must use flat-lens full-cutoff fixtures aimed straight down with shielding

Installation Standards

• Wiring: Electrical feeds for pole-mounted fixtures must run underground
• Pole Placement: Poles behind parking spaces must be at least 5 feet outside paved areas or on 30-inch pedestals
• Mounting Heights:
• Full-cutoff fixtures: Maximum 20 feet above grade
• Non-full-cutoff fixtures: Maximum 16 feet above grade
• Recreational lighting has specific height limits: Basketball: 20 feet Football and Soccer: 70 feet

• Basketball: 20 feet
• Football and Soccer: 70 feet

Special Applications

Recreational Lighting

• Must conform to "zero at lot line full-cutoff criteria" unless special approval is granted
• Sporting events must end lighting by 10:00 PM on weekdays and 11:00 PM on weekends
• Crestwood Stadium and Ozinga Field are exempt from these time restrictions
• Golf driving ranges and trap shooting facilities cannot be illuminated

Flag Lighting

• Only United States and state flags may be illuminated from dusk till dawn
• Must use a single light source with appropriate beam spread
• Maximum 10,000 lumens per flagpole

Sign and Billboard Lighting

• Externally illuminated signs must be lit by top-mounted fixtures aimed downward
• Off-premises sign lighting must automatically turn off between 10:00 PM and dawn

What Property Owners Should Know

Plan Submission Requirements

When applying for development approval, your lighting plan must include:

• Complete site layout showing all fixture locations, mounting heights, and types
• 10×10 foot illuminance grid showing maintained footcandles
• Equipment descriptions including fixture cuts and glare reduction devices
• Coordination between landscaping and lighting to avoid conflicts

After-Hours Lighting

• Commercial, industrial, public, and institutional lighting must be extinguished within 30 minutes after closing
• After-hours security lighting cannot exceed 33% of normal business hours intensity

Light Trespass Prevention

• Light falling onto adjacent residential properties cannot exceed one-tenth vertical footcandle
• Glare control should be achieved through proper fixtures, shields, and placement—not primarily through vegetation

Commercial and Special Use Considerations

Specialized Requirements for Certain Businesses

Sexually Oriented Businesses:

• Viewing rooms under 150 square feet must submit overhead lighting fixture diagrams
• All booths must be visible from well-illuminated continuous main aisle
• Booths must be illuminated by incandescent light of at least 25 watts

Fire Safety Lighting Requirements:

• Warehouses storing flammable materials cannot use open flame lighting
• Only incandescent electric lights are permitted in mattress manufacturing facilities
• Establishments with explosive materials must secure all flames within glass globes or wire mesh cages

Supporting Crestwood's Lighting Vision

Bock Lighting, with roots dating back to 1918 in Northeast Ohio, understands the practical approach that communities like Crestwood value. We recognize that Crestwood's lighting regulations reflect the village's commitment to safety, efficiency, and maintaining its suburban character while controlling costs.

Our experience with suburban communities throughout the Midwest has given us insight into the unique balance communities like Crestwood must maintain—providing adequate illumination for safety and functionality while preventing light pollution and unnecessary energy consumption.

As lighting technology continues to evolve, Bock Lighting serves as an educational resource for communities and property owners navigating the technical requirements of lighting regulations. We share Crestwood's commitment to practical, efficient solutions that serve the community's needs while respecting its character and values.

Conclusion

Crestwood's lighting regulations exemplify the village's practical approach to municipal management. By establishing clear standards for illumination levels, fixture types, and installation requirements, these regulations ensure adequate lighting for safety while preventing light pollution and energy waste.

For property owners and developers, understanding these requirements early in the planning process is essential. Proper lighting design not only ensures compliance with village regulations but also contributes to the overall safety, functionality, and aesthetic quality of developments.

As Crestwood continues to evolve, these lighting standards will help maintain the balance between development and quality of life that makes the village an attractive place to live and do business.