Lighting Regulations in Richland County, South Carolina: Balancing History, Safety, and Aesthetics

Introduction

Richland County, South Carolina, with its rich historical heritage dating back to its formal incorporation in 1799, has developed lighting regulations that reflect its commitment to preserving its unique character while embracing necessary modern standards. As the home of South Carolina's capital, Columbia, the county takes pride in its architectural legacy and historical landmarks, including the South Carolina Statehouse, which was spared during General William T. Sherman's burning of Columbia in 1865.

The county's approach to lighting considers both the practical needs of safety and functionality while respecting the historical significance of the area. These regulations aim to minimize light pollution, control glare, and prevent light trespass while ensuring adequate illumination for residents and businesses.

Quick Reference Guide: Essential Lighting Requirements

• Purpose: Minimize light pollution, glare, and light trespass; conserve energy while maintaining safety • Full-cutoff requirement: All luminaires must be full-cutoff certified (except athletic/sports fields with proper shielding) • Light trespass limits: 0.1 horizontal or 0.1 vertical foot-candles at property lines • Lumens per acre: Varies by property type (80,000 for residential, 200,000 for commercial, 1.3 million for outdoor retail) • Luminaire heights: Varies by application (12-24 feet depending on use) • Prohibited lighting: High pressure sodium, low-pressure sodium, and mercury vapor lamps • Approved lighting: Incandescent, fluorescent, metal halide, LED, and induction lamps

Understanding Basic Lighting Concepts

Key Definitions

Full-cutoff lighting refers to fixtures that cut off all upward transmission of light, with zero light above 90° horizontal. This is a critical requirement for most lighting in Richland County.

Foot candle is defined as a unit for measuring illumination equal to the amount of direct light thrown by a source of one candela on a square foot of surface every part of which is one foot away from the source and facing directly toward the source.

Light trespass refers to light projected onto a property from a fixture not located on that property - something the regulations specifically aim to prevent.

Glare is defined as discomfort experienced by an observer with a direct line of sight to a light source, resulting in visual impairment.

When a Lighting Plan is Required

Only major land developments and major subdivisions must submit a lighting plan with their development application. This ensures that larger projects that might have significant lighting impacts are properly reviewed.

Commercial Property Lighting Requirements

Height and Placement Restrictions

• Maximum height: Luminaires may not exceed 24 feet in height for parking lots and driveways • Building-mounted fixtures: May not be mounted above the 1st floor and shall not exceed 16 feet in height • Pedestrian areas: Luminaires on sidewalks, landscaped areas, or adjacent to buildings limited to 12 feet

Light Output Limitations

• Business hours: Maximum 200,000 lumens per acre • Security/non-business hours: Maximum 80,000 lumens per acre • Distance requirement: The distance between luminaires and residential property lines must be greater than or equal to luminaire height

Parking Garage Lighting

• Top floor: Perimeter poles are not allowed • Interior poles: May not exceed 16 feet in height • Perimeter lighting: Luminaires shall be attached to perimeter walls

Residential Lighting Standards

• Parking areas: Luminaires may not exceed 18 feet in height • Pedestrian zones: Fixtures limited to 12 feet in height • Building-mounted lights: May not be mounted above the 1st floor • Maximum output: 80,000 lumens per acre

Special Use Lighting Requirements

Athletic Facilities

• Lumen exemption: Athletic lighting is exempt from lumens per acre limitations • Glare control: Must have internal visors/panels or external visors that control offsite spill and glare • Light trespass: Regular light trespass requirements still apply • Curfew: Lighting must be turned off by 11:00 p.m. • Special requirements for golf driving ranges: Must use elevated tee boxes with lighting below

Outdoor Retail Areas

• Maximum illumination: Shall not exceed an average of 2.5 horizontal and/or vertical foot-candles • Business hours: Maximum 1.3 million lumens per acre • Non-business hours: Maximum 150,000 lumens per acre • Height restriction: Luminaires shall not exceed 24 feet • Reduction timing: Full-power lighting must be reduced within 30 minutes after business hours end

Canopies (Gas Stations, Entrances)

• Shielding: All luminaires mounted on or recessed into lower surfaces must be fully shielded with flat lenses • Light output: Total under-canopy output limited to 40 lumens per square foot • Calculation: All lighting mounted under the canopy counts toward the total at full initial lumen output

Sign Illumination Standards

External Illumination

• Light source: Must be steady, stationary, shielded and directed solely at the sign • Intensity: Cannot exceed 20 foot-candles at any point on the sign face • Design restriction: Signs shall not have light reflecting backgrounds but may use light reflecting lettering

Digital Signs

• Timing: Content must remain fixed for at least 6 seconds between changes • Transition: Interval between changes must be no longer than 1 second • Brightness: Maximum 7,500 nits during daylight, 500 nits between dusk and dawn • Safety features: Must have automatic dimmer and photo cell sensor • Location restriction: Not permitted within 300 feet of residential districts toward which the sign is oriented

What Property Owners Should Know

Compliance Requirements

When expanding or reconstructing a building after the effective date of the ordinance, lighting standards apply to the extended, enlarged, or reconstructed portions.

Directional Considerations

The orientation of all lighting must generally be downward. However, exceptions exist for: • Places of worship, which may orient some lights upward onto specific architectural components • Accent lighting for sculptures, trees, landscaping features, flags, and entrances

Prohibited Lighting Features

• Search lights • Laser source lights • Any similar high-intensity lights (except in emergencies by police and fire personnel)

Business Hour Reductions

For non-residential properties, parking lot lighting must be reduced to security levels within 60 minutes after business hours end. Only luminaires near building entrances and driveways may remain at security lighting levels.

Supporting Richland County's Lighting Vision

As a manufacturer with roots dating back to 1918, Bock Lighting understands the delicate balance that historic communities like Richland County must maintain between preserving their distinctive character and meeting modern lighting needs.

Bock Lighting shares Richland County's commitment to reducing light pollution while ensuring safe, functional, and aesthetically pleasing illumination. Our expertise in regional architectural styles and understanding of local regulations positions us as a valuable resource for property owners navigating lighting requirements.

Our focus on sustainable lighting practices aligns with Richland County's efforts to conserve energy while maintaining nighttime safety. We believe that proper lighting enhances community character rather than detracting from it, especially in areas with rich historical significance like Richland County.

By providing educational resources about lighting regulations, we aim to support communities in their efforts to preserve their unique identity while embracing appropriate technological advancements.

Conclusion

Richland County's lighting regulations reflect its commitment to balancing historical preservation with modern needs. By controlling light pollution, minimizing glare, and preventing light trespass, these standards help maintain the county's unique character while ensuring adequate illumination for safety and functionality.

Property owners should pay particular attention to the specific requirements for their property type, focusing on proper fixture height, shielding, and lumen limitations. By understanding and following these regulations, residents and businesses contribute to preserving Richland County's distinctive appeal for future generations.

For major developments requiring lighting plans or significant changes to existing properties, consulting with lighting professionals familiar with local regulations can help ensure compliance while achieving desired illumination goals.