Lighting Regulations in Winfield, Indiana: A Guide for Property Owners and Developers

Introduction

Winfield, Indiana is a relatively young suburban community, incorporated in 1993. Unlike many older towns, Winfield doesn't have centuries of architectural heritage that dictate its development patterns. Instead, the town's regulations, including those related to outdoor lighting, reflect its focus on creating high-quality living environments for residents.

As a growing suburban community in Lake County, Winfield balances modern development needs with maintaining neighborhood character and minimizing nuisances. The town's lighting regulations aim to ensure safety and security while preventing light pollution that can disrupt residents' quality of life.

This guide breaks down Winfield's lighting regulations so property owners and developers can understand their obligations and implement lighting that meets both regulatory requirements and community expectations.

Quick Reference Guide

Key Lighting Requirements:

• Light Trespass Limits: 0.0 to 0.5 footcandles at property lines (depending on zones)
• Height Restrictions: Maximum 25 feet (including luminaire)
• Hours of Operation: Commercial zones from ½ hour before sunset until 10:00 p.m. or one hour after close of business
• Security Lighting: Limited to 25% of normal output after permitted hours
• Full-Cutoff Requirement: Mandatory in commercial and industrial zones
• Digital Signage: Maximum 5000 Nits during daylight, 150 Nits at night

Residential Lighting Requirements

Home Occupation Lighting Restrictions

If you operate a business from your home in Winfield, there are specific lighting restrictions to maintain the residential character of neighborhoods:

• Signs for home occupations must be non-illuminated
• No equipment may be used that creates glare detectable beyond your property line
• No lighting or visible display may be used to indicate the presence of a business

Residential Zone Requirements

Outdoor lighting in residential areas must adhere to these standards:

• Any luminaire exceeding 1100 lumens (equivalent to a 75W incandescent bulb) must use shielding or beam-angle control to direct light at or below horizontal
• Motion-activated sensors may use luminaires up to 2200 lumens (150W equivalent) with a maximum 5-minute illumination period
• Luminaires exceeding 2200 lumens must be shielded so the light source is not visible from any property line

Light Trespass Rules

To be a good neighbor and comply with regulations, ensure your residential lighting doesn't spill over property lines:

• Residential to Residential: 0.0 footcandles maximum at property line
• Residential to Commercial/Industrial: 0.5 footcandles maximum at property line

Commercial and Industrial Lighting Standards

Maximum Light Levels

Different areas and purposes have specific maximum light level requirements:

• Non-internally illuminated signs and surfaces:
• Light-colored surfaces: 5.0 footcandles maximum
• Medium-colored surfaces: 10.0 footcandles maximum
• Dark-colored surfaces: 15.0 footcandles maximum
• Auto dealerships:
• Front row/feature displays: 20.0 footcandles maximum
• Other merchandise areas: 10.0 footcandles maximum
• Public parking areas: 5.0 footcandles maximum
• Building entrances/exits: 1.0 footcandles minimum, 5.0 footcandles maximum
• Vehicular entrances from right-of-way: 0.2 footcandles minimum, 4.5 footcandles maximum

Lighting Hours and Security Provisions

Commercial properties must adhere to specific operational hours for lighting:

• Standard hours: From one-half hour before sunset until 10:00 p.m. or one hour after close of business (whichever is later)
• Security lighting: After permitted hours, lighting must be reduced to no more than 25% of normal output
• Light trespass: Commercial zones emitting to residential zones must maintain 0.0 footcandles at property lines

Full-Cutoff and Height Requirements

• All luminaires in commercial and industrial zones must be full-cutoff fixtures installed in proper orientation
• Maximum installed height cannot exceed 25 feet (including the luminaire itself)

Sign Illumination Requirements

Internally Illuminated Signs

• The medium of illumination must not be visible
• Lighting intensity cannot exceed 70 foot candles (measured perpendicular to the sign face at a distance equal to the narrower dimension of the sign)

Externally Illuminated Signs

• Lighting must be uniformly distributed over the sign area
• Lighting cannot reflect toward dwellings or roadways
• Light reflectance cannot exceed 50 foot candles at its brightest area
• Monument signs may use external illumination (encouraged) or internal illumination (with coordinated background and copy to avoid excessive light output)

Digital Signage

• Cannot exceed 5000 Nits during daylight hours
• Cannot exceed 150 Nits at all other times
• Brightness must be measured from the brightest element of the sign's face
• Manufacturer certification required to confirm factory preset light intensity limits

Special Applications

Uplighting Regulations

Uplighting is only permitted for specific applications with proper shielding and control:

• Landscape lighting:
• Maximum inclination: 60°
• Maximum light output: 1100 lumens (up to 45°) or 800 lumens (up to 60°)
• Flag lighting:
• Maximum inclination: 60°
• Maximum light output: 1100 lumens (up to 45°) or 800 lumens (up to 60°)
• Note: Lowering flags at sunset is encouraged to avoid lighting needs
• Sign lighting (ground-mounted, non-internally illuminated signs only):
• Maximum inclination: 45°
• Maximum light output: 1100 lumens

Prohibited Lighting Types

Winfield explicitly prohibits the following lighting applications in all zoning districts:

• Laser light sources
• Flickering, flashing, blinking, scrolling, or rotating lights
• Upward directed lighting (except as specifically permitted)
• Architectural uplighting of polished or glass exterior surfaces
• Searchlights
• Neon accent lighting on buildings
• Mercury vapor light sources (except in open space zoning districts)
• Any luminaire creating glare deemed a hazard or nuisance

Planning and Approval Process

Lighting Plan Requirements

For subdivision and land development applications requiring outdoor lighting, you must submit a lighting plan to the Plan Commission including:

• Site plan showing all existing and proposed luminaires with installation details
• Iso-footcandle plots or illuminance-grid plots demonstrating compliance
• Summary table of maximum and minimum light levels for parking areas, entrances, signs, and walkways
• Detailed specifications for each luminaire including manufacturer, model number, photometric data, and control devices

Post-Approval Considerations

• Any alterations to approved lighting plans must be submitted for review prior to installation
• The town has the right to conduct post-installation inspections to verify compliance
• Non-compliance may require remedial action at the owner's expense

Supporting Winfield's Lighting Vision

Bock Lighting, with roots dating back to 1918 in Northeast Ohio, understands the priorities of suburban communities like Winfield. We share Winfield's commitment to creating safe, functional, and visually appealing environments that enhance quality of life while minimizing light pollution.

As Winfield continues to grow as a suburban community, thoughtful lighting design becomes increasingly important. Bock Lighting appreciates the town's focus on balancing safety needs with residential character preservation.

Our understanding of regional architectural styles and community development patterns allows us to serve as a resource for property owners and developers navigating lighting regulations. We're committed to sustainable practices that align with Winfield's vision for future growth.

Rather than simply providing products, we see our role as supporting communities like Winfield in achieving their development goals through appropriate lighting solutions that respect community standards and enhance residents' quality of life.

Conclusion

Winfield's lighting regulations reflect its commitment to creating a high-quality suburban environment that balances safety, functionality, and neighborhood character. By understanding and following these requirements, property owners and developers can contribute to the town's vision.

The regulations focus on preventing excessive illumination, light trespass, and visually disruptive lighting while ensuring adequate illumination for safety and security. With proper planning and implementation, lighting can enhance Winfield's appeal as a desirable residential community while complying with all applicable standards.

For specific questions about lighting regulations or to request waivers, contact the Winfield Plan Commission or appropriate town departments.