Lighting Regulations in Brook Park, Ohio: A Complete Guide for Property Owners

Introduction

Brook Park, Ohio has developed its lighting regulations with careful consideration of its suburban character and community values. Named for a brook that once ran through the western portion of Middleburg Township, this city of approximately 18,595 residents (as of 2020) has grown with a focus on balancing development needs with quality of life considerations.

The city's proximity to Cleveland Hopkins International Airport has significantly influenced its infrastructure and planning decisions, including how outdoor lighting is regulated. The lighting regulations reflect Brook Park's commitment to providing safe, well-lit environments while respecting residential needs and preventing light pollution.

Quick Reference Guide

Key lighting requirements in Brook Park:

• Recreational fields: Must extinguish lights by 11:00 p.m. Sunday-Thursday and 11:30 p.m. Friday-Saturday
• Commercial properties: Exterior premises must be "properly and sufficiently illuminated" from dusk to dawn
• Parking areas: Minimum 0.2 footcandles maintained in outdoor lots; 0.6 footcandles in parking garages
• Building entrances: Minimum 2 footcandles below light source; 1 footcandle at doorway center
• Walkways: Minimum 0.2 footcandles for exterior walkways longer than 20 feet
• Multi-family common areas: Minimum 3 footcandles of illumination required
• Light shielding: Required to prevent light trespass onto adjacent properties
• Signage: Illumination permitted in most districts with restrictions on glare

Exterior Illumination Requirements

Commercial & Industrial Properties

Brook Park requires all retail, commercial, industrial, and warehousing establishments to provide adequate exterior illumination. Chapter 1359 addresses these requirements specifically:

• Exterior premises, especially doorways, windows, and access areas, must be "properly and sufficiently illuminated"
• Illumination is required during hours between dusk and dawn
• Requirements apply whether businesses are open or closed, and even if buildings are abandoned
• Basic light shields are mandatory to direct illumination downward rather than dispersing it broadly

Preventing Light Trespass

The city places strong emphasis on preventing light from spilling onto neighboring properties:

• Lighting must be "constructed and arranged so as to prevent the direct emission of light upon adjoining lots or the public right of way"
• Illumination must be designed and shielded to avoid shining or glaring into residential premises
• No glare is permitted except as allowed by federal, state, county, or local standards

Technical Specifications for Site Lighting

The code provides specific illumination levels for different areas:

• Parking lots: Minimum 0.2 footcandles maintained at any point in paved areas
• Parking garages: Minimum 0.6 footcandles in unobstructed parking areas and 2 footcandles along aisleways
• Walkways: Minimum 0.2 footcandles for exterior walkways exceeding 20 feet in length
• Exterior steps: Illumination level at least double that of adjacent walkway, with minimum 0.4 footcandles
• Building entrances: Minimum 2 footcandles immediately below light source and 1 footcandle at doorway center

Recreational Lighting Regulations

Field Lighting Curfews

Brook Park carefully regulates when sports field lighting must be turned off:

• All outdoor recreational fields must extinguish lights by 11:00 p.m. with specific exceptions
• Plant Lane ball diamonds: Lights off by 11:00 p.m. Sunday-Thursday, 11:30 p.m. Friday-Saturday
• Forbes and Hufsey Fields: Lights off by 11:00 p.m. Sunday-Thursday, 11:30 p.m. Friday-Saturday
• Wedo Park: Lights off by 11:00 p.m. Sunday-Thursday, 11:30 p.m. Friday-Saturday
• Kennedy Field: No games scheduled after 10:00 p.m. Sunday-Thursday, 11:00 p.m. Friday-Saturday

Swimming Pool Lighting

For residential swimming pools with lighting:

• Lights cannot be used after 10:30 p.m. if the pool is within 200 feet of a dwelling
• Lights must be shielded to direct illumination only onto the pool
• All pool lighting must conform to the National Electric Code

Residential Lighting Requirements

Multi-Family Properties

Brook Park's code includes specific lighting requirements for multi-family dwellings:

• Common hallways and stairways: Minimum 3 footcandles required throughout these areas
• Common halls/stairs: Minimum 60-watt incandescent bulb (or equivalent) per 200 square feet
• Spacing between lights cannot exceed 30 feet
• Other common areas: Boiler rooms, laundries, basements, etc. require minimum 3 footcandles

Short-Term Rental Properties

Properties used as short-term rentals have specific lighting requirements:

• Outdoor security cameras must be installed
• Security lighting cannot reflect or be directed outside the owner's yard
• Signage cannot be internally illuminated

Special Use Lighting Requirements

Cannabis Dispensaries

Both medical and adult-use cannabis dispensaries must meet these lighting standards:

• Interior illumination level of at least 5 footcandles measured at floor level
• Must submit a lighting plan showing how interior, facade, sidewalks, and parking areas will be illuminated
• Plan must demonstrate how lighting will deflect away from adjacent properties
• Must provide adequate exterior lighting for visual inspection/monitoring

Tattoo Operations

Tattoo establishments have specific lighting requirements:

• Minimum 20 footcandles at 30 inches above floor throughout operation
• Minimum 40 footcandles at the level where tattooing is performed
• Spotlighting permitted to achieve required illumination levels

Adult Entertainment Businesses

• Sufficient lighting required throughout all areas accessible to patrons
• Premises must be equipped with operable lighting fixtures in all patron areas

Sign and Billboard Illumination

General Sign Illumination Rules

• Light sources must be shielded from adjacent residential buildings and streets
• Brightness cannot cause glare hazardous to pedestrians or drivers
• U-1 and U-2 Districts: Only nameplates and bulletin boards may be illuminated
• Other Districts: All signs may be illuminated

Billboard-Specific Requirements

• Billboards may be illuminated but cannot contain flashing, blinking, or animated lights
• Flashing or strobe lighting is expressly prohibited
• Illumination must be designed "to conceal lighting sources and to provide illumination without glare"

Emergency and Safety Lighting

Construction Site Safety

• Barricades with warning lights required at night for excavations, wells, or structures under construction
• Warning lights must adequately prevent dangerous conditions

Building Emergency Lighting

• Stairways, hallways, and means of egress must be adequately lit when buildings are occupied
• Emergency lighting system independent of general lighting required
• Automatic transfer devices required to switch between power sources in case of power failure
• Non-residential egress routes require minimum 1 footcandle at floors, landings, and treads

Supporting Brook Park's Lighting Vision

Bock Lighting, with roots in Northeast Ohio dating back to 1918, understands the unique balance Brook Park seeks to maintain between safety, functionality, and suburban character. Our team appreciates how Brook Park has developed lighting standards that protect residential areas while ensuring adequate illumination for safety and security.

As a regional manufacturer with deep understanding of Northeast Ohio's architectural styles and lighting needs, Bock Lighting serves as an educational resource for property owners navigating Brook Park's lighting regulations. We share the city's commitment to sustainable and responsible lighting practices that enhance community safety while respecting residential quality of life.

Bock's expertise in designing lighting solutions that minimize light trespass while maximizing safety aligns with Brook Park's careful regulations requiring shielded fixtures and appropriate illumination levels. Our commitment to helping communities maintain their distinctive character means we work to enhance Brook Park's suburban environment rather than disrupt it.

Conclusion

Brook Park's lighting regulations reflect the city's commitment to maintaining its suburban character while ensuring safety and security through proper illumination. Property owners should pay particular attention to requirements for light shielding, minimum illumination levels, and restrictions on when lighting can be used.

By following these regulations, residents and businesses help maintain Brook Park's quality of life while ensuring adequate lighting for safety and security. The specific footcandle requirements, shield mandates, and timing restrictions create a balanced approach to lighting that serves the community's needs while preventing light pollution and trespass.

Whether you're installing new lighting or evaluating existing fixtures, understanding these regulations will help ensure compliance with Brook Park's lighting vision for its residential and commercial areas.