Lighting Regulations in Pittsburgh, PA: Balancing Historical Character with Modern Standards

Introduction

Founded in 1758 at the confluence of three rivers, Pittsburgh has evolved from an industrial powerhouse to a modern city that carefully balances development with historic preservation. The city's rich architectural heritage, from its 19th-century brick and stone homes to landmarks like the Fort Pitt Blockhouse, represents a commitment to maintaining its historical identity while meeting contemporary needs.

This balance is particularly evident in Pittsburgh's lighting regulations, which aim to enhance safety and functionality while preserving the city's distinctive character and reducing light pollution. These regulations reflect Pittsburgh's dedication to sustainable practices, historical preservation, and community well-being.

Quick Reference Guide to Pittsburgh Lighting Regulations

Key Requirements:

• Dark Sky Compliance required for city-owned buildings, parks, and streetlights
• Color Temperature not to exceed 3,000K (preference for 2,700K where possible)
• Color Rendering Index (CRI) minimum of 60 for roadways, 70 for public and commercial areas
• Light Trespass maximum of 0.4 foot-candles at residential property lines
• Full Cutoff Shielding required to prevent light from being emitted above horizontal plane
• Energy Efficiency LED or other efficient lighting technologies required when practicable

Dark Sky Lighting Principles

What Are Dark Sky Principles?

Pittsburgh has embraced Dark Sky Lighting Principles across multiple chapters of its building code. These principles are defined as "the use of advanced lighting technologies, including, but not limited to LEDs, shielding, and a limit on color temperature in an effort to reduce light pollution and glare and eliminate waste."

Where Dark Sky Standards Apply

The city has committed to implementing Dark Sky standards in:

• City-owned buildings (newly constructed and renovated)
• Parks and playgrounds (new construction and major renovations)
• Streetlights (replacement or installation projects involving more than 10 fixtures)

Technical Requirements for Dark Sky Compliance

All lighting installations under Dark Sky requirements must:

• Utilize LED or other approved advanced lighting technologies
• Include on-off and dimming controls where possible
• Follow current recommendations of the International Dark-Sky Association
• Limit color temperature to 3,000K maximum (with 2,700K preferred where possible)
• Use full cutoff shielding to prevent light emission above horizontal plane

Technical Specifications for Different Areas

Commercial and Public Spaces

For Class 2 (Public Realm) and Class 4 (Commercial) lighting:

• Minimum Color Rendering Index (CRI): 70 or higher
• Correlated Color Temperature (CCT): Between 3,000K and 5,000K
• Lamp Life Requirements: 20,000 hours at 70% rated life for HID lighting, 50,000 hours at 70% rated life for Solid State Lighting
• Luminous Efficacy: 93 Lumens/W for HID, 80 Lumens/W for SSL

Roadway Lighting

For Class 1 (Roadway) lighting:

• Minimum Color Rendering Index (CRI): 60 or higher
• Correlated Color Temperature (CCT): Between 3,000K and 5,000K
• Luminous Efficacy: 93 Lumens/W for HID, 80 Delivered Lumens/W for SSL
• Lamp Life: 20,000 hours at 70% rated life for HID, 50,000 hours at B50/L70 life for SSL

Parking Areas

Parking facilities must follow these illumination standards:

• Basic Illuminance:
• Minimum Horizontal Illuminance: 0.2 footcandles
• Uniformity Ratio (Max-to-Min): 20:1
• Minimum Vertical Illuminance: 0.1 footcandles
• Parking Garages:
• Minimum Horizontal: 1.0 footcandles
• Maximum/Minimum Horizontal Uniformity Ratio: 10:1
• Minimum Vertical: 0.5 footcandles

Light Trespass and Residential Protection

Preventing Nuisance Lighting

Pittsburgh's regulations specifically protect residential areas from excessive lighting:

• All lights must be arranged and controlled to deflect light away from residentially zoned lots
• Any light or combination of lights that cast light on a residentially zoned lot shall not exceed 0.4 foot-candles (meter reading), measured three feet inside the lot line
• Any light or combination of lights that cast light on a public street shall not exceed 1.0 foot-candle as measured from the centerline of the street

Hours of Operation Restrictions

The code stipulates that:

• Vehicular use areas shall not be lighted outside the hours of operation of the use they serve, except for necessary security lighting
• For city-owned buildings, all site lighting must be turned off between midnight and 6:00 a.m., with exceptions determined by the Department of Public Works

Building-Specific Lighting Requirements

Interior Lighting Management

For city-owned buildings, the code requires:

• Light trespass prevention from interior lighting by lowering window shades after sunset and/or turning off lighting when not in use
• Only lighting entrances and exits (minimizing unnecessary exterior lighting)
• Low-intensity façade lighting is permitted only if no lighting spills beyond the façade being lit

Commercial Buildings

For commercial establishments:

• Lighting shall be arranged so that no source of light is directed toward any lots used or zoned for residential use
• Lighting must shield public streets and adjacent lands from distracting glare or hazardous interference

What Property Owners Should Know

When Do These Regulations Apply?

The lighting code applies in different scenarios:

• New construction: All outdoor lighting installations for new buildings and developments must meet code requirements
• Major additions/modifications: If you're expanding a building or use by more than 25% (dwelling units, floor area, or parking spaces), all outdoor lighting on the entire property must comply
• Minor additions/modifications: For smaller projects (less than 25% expansion), new lighting must comply with light pollution standards, and total outdoor light output cannot exceed pre-modification levels

Calculations and Documentation

Property owners must:

• Use recognized lighting software for calculations
• Show illuminance levels (in footcandles) on submitted "Site Lighting Plan"
• Submit fixture schedules and manufacturer catalog cutsheets including photometric information
• Obtain approval for any fixture changes after permits are issued

Supporting Pittsburgh's Lighting Vision

At Bock Lighting, we share Pittsburgh's commitment to preserving historical character while embracing responsible, modern lighting practices. With roots in Northeast Ohio dating