Ord 464-43AN EMERG~ ORDINANCE OF THE CITY COUNCIL OF TPIE CITY OF DELRAY
BEACH, FLORIDA, REGULATING LIGHTING.
WHEREAS, an emergency exists in the City of Delray Beach,
Florida, due to the war with the Axis Nations and due to the fact
that this municipality is located adjacent to the Atlantic Ocean
and is in the coastal dimout area as described by regulations
issued by Major General Wm. Bryden, and,
WHEREAS, it is necessary for the public peace and safety of
the City of Delray Beach, Florida, that this emergency ordinance
governing lighting be adopted, now therefore,
BE IT ORDAINED By the City Council of Delray Beach, Florida,
as follows:
SECTION 1
DEFINITIONS
1. HOURS OF DARKNESS. Until such time as rescinded or
amended, this ordinance S~all be in D~ll force and effect from
one-half hour after sundown each night until one-half hour before
sunrise the following morning between the dates of October 1 and
April 30, inclusive, and from one hour after sundown each night
until one-half hour before sunrise the following morning between
the dates of May 1 and September 30, inclusive.
2. VISIBLE FROM SEA. Lights are considered to be visible
waters of the Atlantic Ocean.
_ 3. COAST.AL DIMOUT ~. For the purposes of this ordinance,
the term"Coastal Dimout Area"Sl~l include all property within the
city limits of the City of Delray Beach, Florida.
4. SOURCE OF LIGHT. For the purpose of this ordinance,
the term "Source of Light" is defined as follows: Any glass
enclosed filament, gas mantle, flourescent or neon tube, arc light,
or other light generating element operating on an electrical circuit,
by illuminating gas, open flame or otherwise, together with all
enclosing transparent or translucent material.
SECTION 11
GENERAL PROVISION
5. Any light visible from out-of-doors that cannot be
ex~lnguished , completely obscured, or reduced in intensity in
accordance with Standard War Department Blackout Specifications
within five minutes of the sounding of the signal for a Blackout,
shall be permanently extinguished.
SECTION 111
A. Ail lights or reflections therefrom (with the exception
of vehicular headlights and lamps as provided for in paragraph 7
below and official m~aritime and aerial navigation lights and railroad
signal lights as provided for in paragraph 15 below) shall be shielded,
obscured, or .reduced in intensity so that they are not visible from
the sea. If they cannot be so shielded or controlled they shall be
extinguished.
7. On streets, highways or within areas where vehicular
headlights are visible from the sea, but subject to the exception
hereinafter stated, vehicles shall operate with no more than two
lighted parking lights and each such lamp shallbe equipped with not
more than a six candle-power bulb. The term "parking lights" is
intended to include only a separate unit parking lights of a standard
design. Dimmed or iow-beam headlights may be used if they are hooded
or if obscured by opaque paint or other opaque material in such
manner that light escapes through not more than one-tenth of the
surface of the lens. Normal rear lights, license plate lights and
clearance lights are permitted. Vehicles responding to a fire alarm
or when in the immediate pursuit of an actual or suspected violator
of the law, or when going to the aid of or transporting a person who
is in apparent need of immediate emergency medical or surgical care,
or when responding to other emergency involving the protection of
llfe or property, or military vehicles on urgent missions shall be
excepted from the foregoing provisions.
SECTION iV
ESSENTIAL ILLUMINATION
8. Ail exterior lights used for illumination of streets or
guidance of traffic, except exterior automobile lamps, shall be re-
duced in wettage and number to ~he minimum consistent with their
purpose and those retained in use shall be permanently shielded in
such a manner that the source of light will not be visible above
the horizontal.
9. The use of high-beam vehicle headlights within the coastal
dimout area is prohibited. Cars not equipped with Iow-beam headlights
will operate on dtmmed lights only. Headlights, if used, shall
have the upper one-half of the lens obscured by opaque paint or other
opaque material.
10. Ail exterior lights used for outdoor manufacturing, in
railroad yards, for repair work, shipbuilding, necessary handling
or storage of raw or finished materials, or for any types of outdoor
construction work, shall be reduced as in paragraph 8, above, and shall
be permanently shielded in such a manner that the source of light will
not be visible at an angle less than ~5 degrees below the horizontal.
11. Ail exterior lights used for protective purposes, much as
illumination of fence lines, exits, sides of buildings, or open areas
shall be shielded as in paragraph 10 above, and in no case shall the
light as measured on the ground or other illuminated areas exceed
one foot-candle at any point.
12. Interior lighting of buildings used for residential or
commercial purposes, or both~ industrial establishments engaged in
production of war materials (whether federally owned or operated,
or privately owned or operated) shall be shaded or otherwise controlled
either et the source of light or at the openings of such buildings
in such manner that the source of light, as defined in paragraph ~,
above, shall not be directly visible from any point outside of said
buildings.
13. Lights or windows in railroad trains, buses and ferries
shall be shielded or otherwise controlled in such a manner that no
source of light will be visible from the outside at an angle above
the horizontal, and ~he escape of light therefrom shall not exceed
two foot-candles at any point three feet from the said vehicles.
15. Bonfires, brush fires, burning fields, and other outdoor
fires shall be completely extinguished during the hours that these
regulations are applicable.
15. These regulations do not apply to official maritime
or aerial navigation lights, or to railroad signal lights.
,.S. ECTI.O? V
16. All exterior lights used f~r illumination of open areas,
parking lots, gasoline filling stations, playgrounds, places of
amusement or entertainment, sidewalk cafes, marquees, open air gardens,
terrace, for holiday decorations, and all other exterior lights not
specifically covered by other regulations herein, shall be permanently
shielded in such a manner that no source of light will be visible at
_,~ angle less than $5 degrees below the horizontal. Such lighting
shall be further limited as follows:
a. In no case shaOl the lighting as measured o~ the open
area ~xceed one foot-candle at any point.
b. In no case shall the total wattage used exceed the follow-
ing l~nits:
For incandescent bulbs - 1/Sth watt per square foot of lighted area.
For fluorescent tubes - 1/16th watt per square foot of lighted area.
17. Ail exterior advertising signs, however illuminated,
shall be extinguished.
18. Interior lighting of stores, show windows, restaurants,
bars, comm~rcial and industrial establishments (other than war pro-
' duction plan~s) and all 'other interior lights, now specifically
covered by other regulations herein, shall be extinguished, or
IN LIEU OF SUCH EXTINGUISh, shall be dimmed, shielded or other-
wise controlled in such a manner as to prevent the source of light
being visible from a~ove the horizontal, and also so as to prevent
the escape of light from such building in excess of tw~ foot-candles,
as measured at any point three feet from any window, door or other
opening of such building or establishment.
,, cTI0
19. Any person who violates any of the provisions of this
ordinance shall be punished by a fine of not exceeding One Hundred
Dollars ($100.) or by imprisonment in the City Jail for not
exceeding thirty (30) days or by both such fine and imprisonment
in the discretion of the Municipal Judge.
SECTION VII
This is an emergency ordinance and shall take effect ~mmediately
on its passage upon first reading.
PASSED in regular session on this the ~ day of February,
A. D. 19~3.
Attest: Approved: