Lighting Regulations in Shorewood, Illinois: A Property Owner's Guide to Compliance and Safety

Introduction

Nestled in Will County, Shorewood, Illinois has evolved from its early settlements into a thriving suburban community that values safety, aesthetics, and quality of life. Incorporated in 1957, Shorewood has grown steadily while maintaining its suburban character and family-friendly atmosphere. The village's lighting regulations reflect its commitment to balancing practical safety concerns with residential comfort and community aesthetics.

As Shorewood continues to develop as a desirable suburb within the Chicago metropolitan area, its lighting regulations serve multiple important purposes: ensuring adequate illumination for safety, preventing light pollution and glare that can disturb residents, and maintaining the visual appeal of both residential and commercial areas.

Quick Reference Guide

The most critical Shorewood lighting requirements:

• Permits Required: Freestanding or wall-mounted lighting installations on multi-family, commercial, industrial or institutional properties require permits
• Light Trespass Limit: Maximum 0.5 foot-candles at property lines (with exceptions for safety at ingress/egress points)
• Height Restrictions: Freestanding lighting fixtures cannot exceed 25 feet in height
• Glare Control: Light sources must be shielded to prevent direct light casting onto adjacent properties
• Mobile Food Vendors: No lighting may spill onto adjacent residential properties
• Residential Common Areas: 60-watt equivalent per 200 square feet, with maximum 30-foot spacing
• Digital Sign Brightness: Maximum 5,000 nits daytime, 250 nits nighttime
• Business Hours: Non-residential lighting must be reduced to minimum levels 60 minutes after close

Residential Lighting Requirements

Common Areas and Hallways

For multi-family residences and common areas, Shorewood's code establishes clear illumination standards:

• Hallways and Stairwells: Must be illuminated at all times with at least one 60-watt standard incandescent light bulb (or equivalent) for each 200 square feet
• Spacing Requirement: Lights in common areas must not be spaced more than 30 feet apart
• Overall Illumination: Multi-family areas must maintain an average of 1.6 foot-candles with a minimum of 0.4 foot-candles
• Uniformity Ratio: 4:1 ratio required for consistent lighting without harsh bright or dark spots

Required Fixture Locations

The code specifies that certain areas must have at least one electric luminaire:

• Public halls
• Interior stairways
• Toilet rooms
• Kitchens
• Bathrooms
• Laundry rooms
• Boiler rooms
• Furnace rooms

Switches and Controls

• Wall Switches Required: General lighting in kitchens, bathrooms, powder rooms, halls, and stairwells must be controlled by wall switches
• Basement Lighting: Must comply with the National Electrical Code
• Pool and Spa Lighting: Luminaires over 15V must have ground fault circuit interrupter protection

Commercial & Non-Residential Lighting

Illumination Levels

Shorewood's code provides detailed illumination standards for different commercial property types:

• Regional Shopping Centers: Average 3.6 foot-candles, minimum 0.9 foot-candles
• Fast Food/Convenience Retailers: Average 3.6 foot-candles, minimum 0.9 foot-candles
• Community Shopping Centers: Average 2.4 foot-candles, minimum 0.6 foot-candles
• Office Parking Areas: Average 2.4 foot-candles, minimum 0.6 foot-candles
• Building Entrances: Minimum 5.0 foot-candles
• Merchandise Display Areas: Average 7.0 foot-candles, minimum 0.9 foot-candles
• Under Canopies (fuel stations, ATMs, drive-thrus): Average 20.0 foot-candles

After-Hours Requirements

Reduced Lighting: All non-residential properties must reduce illumination to the minimum required levels no later than 60 minutes after close of business.

Adult-Oriented Businesses

Adult-oriented businesses have specific requirements:

• Minimum illumination of 5 foot-candles measured at floor level
• Overhead lighting fixtures must be identified in license applications
• Licensee must maintain proper illumination at all times

Light Trespass and Positioning Regulations

Property Line Limitations

To minimize disturbance to neighboring properties, Shorewood limits light trespass:

• Maximum at Property Line: 0.5 foot-candles at any property line
• Exception: Higher levels permitted at points of ingress/egress for public safety
• Commercial Centers Exception: Interior lot lines between adjoining commercial parcels in planned centers are exempt

Direction and Shielding

• General Requirement: All exposed light sources must be shielded to avoid casting direct light that creates a nuisance in residential districts
• Facility Lighting: Lighting for facilities such as swim clubs, tennis clubs, and outdoor storage areas must be directed away from surrounding properties
• Building-Mounted Lighting: Limited to areas immediately adjacent to building entrances
• Freestanding Fixture Placement: Must be installed at least 5 feet from any property line and within 5 feet of the area they're intended to illuminate

Special Applications

• Mobile Food Vending: No lighting may spill onto adjacent residential property as measured from the property line
• Solar Energy Systems: Cannot be permanently illuminated except for minimal FAA-required lighting or approved security lighting

Digital Signage and Electronic Displays

Brightness Limitations

To prevent distractions to drivers and light pollution, electronic displays have strict brightness limits:

• Daytime Maximum: 5,000 nits (candelas per square meter)
• Nighttime Maximum: 250 nits between 30 minutes after sunset and 30 minutes before sunrise
• Automatic Adjustment: Must be equipped with light detectors/photocells that automatically adjust brightness based on ambient light

Compliance Verification

• Brightness is measured using a luminance meter positioned perpendicular to the sign face center
• The sign face must be the only subject visible in the viewfinder during measurement
• Sign owners are required to keep digital displays in compliance with all applicable regulations

Street Lighting Requirements

Placement Standards

Shorewood requires comprehensive street lighting in all new subdivisions:

• Required Locations: All street intersections and ends of cul-de-sac streets
• Spacing Requirements:
• Local streets: Maximum 250 feet between lights
• Minor collectors: Maximum 195 feet
• Major collectors: Maximum 185 feet (placed on one side of road)
• Major arterials: Spacing determined by village review

Mobile Home Parks

Mobile home parks have specific street lighting requirements:

• At least one 100-watt equivalent light for each 200 linear feet of private streets
• Lights required at each entrance and exit
• Public street lighting must conform to Village regulations

What Property Owners Should Know

Permitting Process

Before installing lighting on multi-family, commercial, industrial, or institutional properties:

1. Submit a lighting permit application to the Building Department
2. Include a photometric plan showing fixture locations, illumination levels, and manufacturer specifications
3. Ensure your plan meets minimum and maximum illumination standards for your property type
4. Verify fixtures are positioned to minimize light trespass onto neighboring properties

Maintenance Responsibilities

Property owners are responsible for:

• Maintaining all lighting in working condition
• Ensuring continued compliance with illumination standards
• Proper disposal of fluorescent bulbs (classified as household hazardous waste)
• Keeping lighting fixtures properly shielded and directed

Retrofit Considerations

When upgrading existing lighting systems:

• Verify new fixtures meet Shorewood's glare control requirements
• Check that illumination levels comply with current standards
• Consider energy-efficient options while maintaining required light levels
• Ensure controls allow for proper after-hours reduction of lighting levels

Supporting Shorewood's Lighting Vision

Bock Lighting, with roots dating back to 1918, understands the unique balance that suburban communities like Shorewood strive to achieve between safety, functionality, and visual appeal. Our Northeast Ohio manufacturing heritage gives us perspective on how lighting shapes community character in suburban environments similar to Shorewood.

As communities like Shorewood continue to grow and evolve, lighting plays a crucial role in defining public spaces while respecting residential comfort. Bock Lighting shares Shorewood's commitment to thoughtful development that enhances quality of life through appropriate lighting solutions.

Our understanding of regional architectural styles and suburban lighting needs allows us to serve as a resource for communities navigating lighting regulations. We appreciate Shorewood's careful approach to growth that maintains its distinctive suburban character while ensuring public safety through proper illumination.

Conclusion

Shorewood's lighting regulations reflect the village's commitment to creating a safe, comfortable community environment that balances practical needs with quality of life considerations. By establishing clear standards for illumination levels, fixture positioning, and light trespass prevention, these regulations help maintain Shorewood's suburban charm while ensuring adequate lighting for safety and security.

Property owners who understand and follow these regulations not only avoid potential compliance issues but also contribute to the overall aesthetic and functional quality of the village. Whether you're developing a new property or upgrading existing lighting, consulting the village's detailed regulations early in your planning process will help ensure a smooth approval process and successful implementation.