Lighting Regulations in Fostoria, Ohio: Balancing Historic Character with Modern Needs

Introduction: Fostoria's Lighting Heritage

Fostoria, Ohio, is a city with a unique historical character deeply rooted in its industrial past. Founded in 1854 and named after Charles Foster (who later became Ohio's governor), the city is renowned for its significant contribution to the glass industry. The discovery of natural gas in the 1880s led to the establishment of numerous glass manufacturing companies, with the Fostoria Glass Company being the most notable.

This rich history has shaped not only Fostoria's architectural landscape but also influenced its approach to lighting regulations. As a city that once produced some of America's finest glass products, Fostoria has a special relationship with light and illumination that continues to this day.

Today, Fostoria balances preserving its historical heritage while meeting modern lighting needs for safety, visibility, and aesthetic appeal.

Quick Reference Guide: Key Lighting Requirements

• Light Trespass Prevention: Lights must be arranged to reflect light away from adjoining properties
• Parking Areas: Areas used during non-daylight hours must be properly illuminated for safety
• Central Business District: Exterior lighting must be directed onto the property and shielded from adjacent properties
• Sign Illumination: Maximum 2 watts per sign face square foot, not exceeding 30 vertical foot-candles
• Digital Signs: Maximum 3,000 nits during daylight hours, 150 nits at night
• Industrial Areas: No direct or reflected glare visible from outside industrial districts or public roads
• Prohibited Lighting Types: Rotating, traveling, pulsing, flashing, blinking, oscillating light sources, lasers, beacons, search lights, strobe lighting, and neon lights

General Property Lighting Requirements

Light Trespass Prevention

Fostoria's regulations consistently emphasize the importance of containing light to one's own property. This respects neighbors' rights while maintaining the city's historical character.

• Any lights used to illuminate parking areas must be arranged to reflect light away from adjoining properties
• Exterior lighting in the Central Business Overlay District must be designed to direct light onto the property and shielded from adjacent property or road right-of-way
• Lighting of accessory structures for security purposes must be arranged to direct and reflect away from adjacent residential properties or public ways

Construction and Safety Lighting

Safety remains a priority while maintaining aesthetic standards:

• Construction sites, excavations, wells, cesspools, or structures under construction must be adequately protected by warning devices or lights at night to prevent dangerous conditions
• It is prohibited to destroy, remove, damage or extinguish any barricade or warning light placed for public protection

Tree Management for Lighting

The regulations recognize that natural elements can impact lighting effectiveness:

• Property owners must prune tree branches that obstruct light from street lamps
• The City retains the right to prune trees or shrubs on private property when they interfere with the proper spread of light from street lights

Special Use Lighting Regulations

Park Lighting

• City parks' hours are limited to dawn until dark
• Exception for activities where the City provides lighting, such as:
• Baseball
• Softball
• Ice skating
• Tennis
• Annual 4th of July fireworks display

Industrial Area Lighting

• No direct or reflected glare is permitted which is visible from any property outside an Industrial District or from any public street
• Industrial uses must utilize landscaping and existing woodland as buffers to screen lighting, parking areas, loading areas, and outdoor storage

Tower and Antenna Lighting

• No signals, lights, or illumination permitted unless required by FAA regulation or other Federal/State law
• Light fixtures may be attached to a tower or antenna if designed to illuminate parks, athletic fields, parking lots, streets, or similar areas
• When lighting of a tower is required, it must be designed to minimize glare on adjacent residential properties

Sign Illumination Requirements

General Sign Lighting Standards

• Signs may be illuminated from within or from an external source
• Illumination must avoid glare or reflection that interferes with traffic safety
• Internally illuminated signs must have an opaque background and translucent copy

Technical Specifications for Sign Lighting

• External lighting fixtures must be aimed and shielded so direct illumination focuses exclusively on the sign
• Fixture mounting:
• Mounted on top of sign and aimed downward
• Signs under seven feet above grade may use ground-mounted up-lighting not exceeding 100 lamp watts per sign face
• Maximum wattage: 2 watts per sign face square foot
• Maximum illumination: Cannot exceed 30 vertical foot-candles during darkness

Prohibited Lighting Types

The following lighting types are expressly prohibited:

• Rotating lights
• Traveling lights
• Pulsing lights
• Flashing lights
• Blinking lights
• Oscillating light sources
• Lasers
• Beacons
• Search lights
• Strobe lighting
• Neon lights
• Colored lights that could be confused with traffic control devices

Digital Sign Requirements

• Permitted in B-1, B-2, B-3, M-1, M-2, S-1, RMH, and Corridor Business Overlay District
• Prohibited in R-1, R-2, and R-3 districts
• Maximum luminance:
• Daytime (sunrise to sunset): 3,000 nits
• Nighttime (sunset to sunrise): 150 nits
• Must automatically dim to these levels at sunset
• If automatic dimming unavailable, must be turned off at sunset
• Display must go dark if malfunction occurs

Sign Type-Specific Regulations

• Residential district signs: Not separately illuminated (though incidental illumination from porch or yard lights is allowed)
• Awning signs: Internal illumination prohibited
• Blade signs: Internal illumination prohibited
• Window signs: Cannot be illuminated
• Portable signs: Cannot be illuminated
• Temporary signs: Cannot be separately illuminated

Home Occupation and Residential Lighting

For residential properties, lighting should maintain the residential character:

• Lighting should not alter the appearance of the structure or cause the premises to differ from its residential character
• The use shall not generate glare beyond what typically occurs in the applicable zoning district

Preservation District Considerations

Fostoria recognizes the importance of appropriate lighting in maintaining its historic character:

• The Review Board gives specific consideration to lighting for properties within a Preservation District
• Criteria, rules, and regulations must be reviewed by the City Planning Commission and approved by Council

Supporting Fostoria's Lighting Vision

At Bock Lighting, we share Fostoria's commitment to preserving historical character while meeting modern lighting needs. As a Northeast Ohio manufacturer with roots dating back to 1918, we understand the unique balance that communities like Fostoria must maintain between historical integrity and practical concerns.

Our experience working with communities throughout the region has given us insight into the challenges property owners face when navigating lighting regulations. We appreciate Fostoria's thoughtful approach to lighting that respects both the city's glass-making heritage and the needs of today's residents and businesses.

Bock Lighting serves as an educational resource for property owners seeking to understand and comply with local lighting regulations. Our expertise in architectural lighting allows us to recommend solutions that respect Fostoria's unique character and regulatory requirements.

We're committed to supporting sustainable and responsible lighting practices that align with Fostoria's vision for its future – one that honors its past while embracing modern technologies that enhance safety and quality of life.

Conclusion: Lighting That Honors Fostoria's Legacy

Fostoria's lighting regulations reflect its commitment to balancing practical concerns with respect for the city's unique historical character. From safety illumination to sign lighting specifications, these regulations help maintain a community that honors its glass-making heritage while providing for the needs of residents and businesses.

Property owners should familiarize themselves with these requirements before installing or modifying lighting on their properties. By doing so, they not only ensure compliance but also contribute to preserving the distinctive character that makes Fostoria special.

Understanding and following these regulations helps maintain Fostoria as a vibrant community that respects its past while looking confidently toward its future.