Lighting Regulations in Perry County, Indiana: Preserving Rural Character While Ensuring Safety and Functionality

Introduction: Perry County's Unique Heritage

Nestled along the Ohio River in southern Indiana, Perry County boasts a rich historical legacy dating back to its establishment in 1814. Named after naval hero Commodore Oliver Hazard Perry, the county's landscape is characterized by rolling hills and over 60,000 acres of the picturesque Hoosier National Forest.

The county's European heritage is particularly evident in Tell City, the county seat founded by Swiss-German immigrants in 1858. This cultural background has significantly influenced the county's approach to development and preservation, including its lighting regulations.

Perry County's lighting ordinances reflect its commitment to maintaining its rural character and historical ambiance while ensuring safety and functionality for residents and businesses. These regulations help preserve the natural darkness of night skies—an increasingly rare resource—while allowing for necessary illumination.

Quick Reference Guide: Key Lighting Requirements

Before diving into the details, here's a summary of Perry County's most important lighting regulations:

• Outdoor Lighting Design: All fixtures must have shields, reflectors, fracture panels, or recessed light sources with a cutoff angle of 90 degrees or less
• Glare Restrictions: No glare permitted on streets, residential areas, adjoining properties, or thoroughfares
• Parking Lot Lighting: Must be arranged to reflect light away from adjoining residential districts
• Minimum Light Levels:
• Cabarets: Minimum 5 footcandles at 3 feet above floor
• Adult theaters: Minimum 2 footcandles at floor level
• Sign Illumination: Varies by district and sign type (detailed below)

Outdoor Lighting Fixture Requirements

Understanding Cutoff Angle Restrictions

Perry County regulations specify that all outdoor lighting fixtures must be designed with appropriate light control features. This includes ground-mounted, pole-mounted, and building-mounted fixtures, as well as canopy lighting.

Specifically, these fixtures must incorporate:

• Shields
• Reflectors
• Fracture panels
• Recessed light sources

These design elements ensure that the cutoff angle is 90 degrees or less. For clarity, the cutoff angle is defined as the angle formed by: 1. A line drawn from the direction of light rays at the source 2. A line perpendicular to the ground from the light source

Above this angle, no light is permitted to be emitted.

The Purpose of Cutoff Requirements

This technical requirement serves an important purpose in Perry County. By controlling the direction of light emissions, these regulations:

• Reduce light pollution that would diminish visibility of the night sky
• Prevent light trespass onto neighboring properties
• Maintain the rural and historical character of the area
• Improve visibility by reducing glare for drivers and pedestrians

Glare Restrictions and Controls

County-Wide Glare Prohibition

Perry County's regulations are quite clear regarding glare: "No glare shall be seen from any street or any residential area." This straightforward requirement protects residential quality of life and traffic safety.

Additional Glare Provisions

The county code also specifies that "lighting devices which produce objectionable direct or reflected glare on adjoining properties or thoroughfares shall not be permitted." This provision further reinforces the county's commitment to preventing light trespass.

Home Occupations

For home-based businesses, the regulations state that "objectionable noise, vibration, smoke, dust, electrical disturbance, odors, heat or glare shall not be produced." This ensures that home occupations remain compatible with residential neighborhoods.

Commercial Lighting Requirements

Parking Lot Illumination

For businesses providing off-street parking, Perry County requires that any lighting used to illuminate these areas must be arranged to reflect light away from adjoining premises in residential districts.

When submitting site plans, developers must include details about "illumination of facilities" along with other parking lot specifications.

Specific Business Types

Perry County has established minimum lighting levels for certain types of establishments:

• Cabarets:
• Minimum lighting level: 5 footcandles
• Measurement height: 3 feet above the floor
• Area: Spaces occupied by customers
• Sexually Oriented Motion Picture Theaters and Video Viewing Areas:
• Minimum lighting level: 2 footcandles
• Measurement height: Floor level
• Area: Spaces occupied by customers

These requirements ensure adequate visibility for safety purposes while allowing these businesses to operate appropriately.

Sign Illumination Regulations

Institutional Signs in Residential or Agricultural Districts

Perry County makes a distinction between types of signs for institutional uses in residential or agricultural districts:

• Detached signs: May be illuminated
• Wall signs: Shall not be illuminated

Business District Signs

For businesses operating in designated business districts, signs may be illuminated in one of two ways:

• Internal illumination: Light source contained within the sign
• Direct illumination: Using white light only, which must be cast downward onto the sign

These sign illumination provisions balance business visibility needs with the county's aesthetic and light pollution concerns.

Accessibility Requirements for Lighting Controls

Multi-Family Dwelling Standards

For covered multi-family dwellings with first occupancy after March 13, 1991 (30 months after September 13, 1988), Perry County requires:

• Light switches
• Electrical outlets
• Thermostats
• Other environmental controls

All must be placed in accessible locations to ensure usability by all residents, including those with disabilities.

What Property Owners Should Know

Planning for Compliance

If you're developing property or updating exterior lighting in Perry County, these tips will help ensure compliance:

• Choose appropriate fixtures: Select lights with proper shielding that meet the 90-degree cutoff angle requirement
• Consider your neighbors: Position lights to avoid casting glare onto streets or neighboring properties
• Document your lighting plan: Include detailed illumination plans when submitting site development documents
• Check zoning-specific requirements: Some lighting regulations vary by district and property use

The Importance of Proper Planning

Addressing lighting requirements early in the planning process can save significant time and money. Retrofitting non-compliant lighting after installation is typically more expensive than selecting appropriate fixtures from the start.

Supporting Perry County's Lighting Vision

Bock Lighting, with roots dating back to 1918, understands the unique balance Perry County seeks to maintain between preserving its historical character and meeting modern lighting needs.

As a regional manufacturer with deep knowledge of architectural styles found throughout southern Indiana, Bock appreciates Perry County's commitment to maintaining its distinctive rural character while ensuring safety and functionality through appropriate lighting standards.

Our team recognizes that Perry County's lighting regulations reflect community values—preserving dark skies over the beautiful Hoosier National Forest, maintaining the European-influenced architectural character of Tell City, and ensuring safety throughout the county's communities.

We're committed to serving as an educational resource for property owners and developers navigating lighting regulations, not just a provider of lighting products. Our goal is to support communities like Perry County in implementing lighting solutions that respect local character and regulations.

Conclusion

Perry County's lighting regulations reflect its commitment to preserving its unique rural and historical character while ensuring safety and functionality. By controlling glare, specifying appropriate fixture designs, and establishing context-sensitive standards for different districts and uses, these regulations help maintain the quality of life that residents value.

Property owners, developers, and businesses operating in Perry County should familiarize themselves with these requirements to ensure compliance and contribute to the county's vision for appropriate lighting that respects its natural and historical assets.

For specific projects, we recommend consulting with Perry County planning officials to ensure complete compliance with all current regulations, as codes may be updated over time.