When used in this chapter, the following words, terms, and phrases, and their derivations shall have the meanings provided in this section, except where the context clearly indicates a different meaning. Words, terms, and phrases, and their derivations used in this chapter which are defined in the Breckenridge Development Code (chapter 1 of this title) shall have the meaning provided in that chapter, unless there is a conflict with a specific definition set forth in this section, in which case the specific definition in this section shall control.

ADDRESS LIGHTING: Fixtures used to illuminate the address of a property.

ARCHITECTURAL ACCENT LIGHTING: Fixtures used to accent architectural features, materials, colors, style of buildings, landscape features, or art that are located, aimed and shielded so that light is directed downward onto those features or upwards if fully contained within an architectural element.

BISTRO LIGHTS: A display of small white or clear bulbs on a string that are used to call attention and provide light and ambiance to an exterior food and beverage area designated by the site plan allowed in Lighting Zones 1 and 2 and for residential uses up to 150 square feet over a deck or patio in all lighting zones.

BULB: Includes all types of lighting sources.

DECORATIVE LIGHTING: Decorative string lighting, consisting of bulbs no larger than three inches, that outlines a building or structure following the trim line on an eave, window or railing; or decorative string lighting in trees; or decorative string lighting between commercial or mixed use buildings or to a post or structure forming a canopy over a walkway. Decorative lighting does not fill in building features such as walls and roofs.

EAVE OVERHANG: The section of roof overhanging the building wall, often called a soffit.

EMERGENCY LIGHTING: Lighting used by a police department, fire department, or other governmental entity for the purpose of public safety.

ENERGY STAR: A joint program of the U.S. Environmental Protection Agency and the U.S. Department of Energy which aims to save money and protect the environment through energy efficient products and practices.

FIXTURE: An electrical device that has a housing, mount, or socket for a light source or lamp and the parts to distribute, position, and protect the light source.

FLUORESCENT: A lamp containing mercury vapor with an inner phosphor coating that interacts to create visible light.

FOOT-CANDLE: A unit of measure of the intensity of light falling on a surface, equal to one (1) lumen per square foot. One (1) foot-candle equals approximately 0.1 (0.093) lux.

FULLY SHIELDED: An outdoor light fixture constructed so that in its installed position all of the light emitted by the fixture is projected below the horizontal plane passing through the lowest light emitting part of the fixture.

ILLUMINATING ENGINEERING SOCIETY (OR IES): The professional society of lighting engineers, including those from manufacturing companies and others professionally involved in lighting.

INCANDESCENT: A wire filament enclosed in a glass bulb that is heated until glowing. Tungsten-halogen lamps are a type of incandescent.

INCIDENT LIGHT: Light that strikes a surface or an object. Incident light can be from a light source directly or reflecting off another surface.

KELVIN (K): The unit of measurement indicating correlated color temperature (CCT) of a light, defined by a scale that ranges from red light (one thousand kelvins (1,000 K) to blue-white light (ten thousand kelvins (10,000 K) or more).

LIGHT EMITTING DIODE (LED): A semiconductor diode that emits light when a voltage is applied to it and that is used especially in electronic devices.

LIGHT POLLUTION: Any artificial light that is emitted either directly or indirectly by reflection that alters the appearance of the night sky; interferes with astronomical observation; or interferes with the natural functioning of nocturnal native wildlife.

LIGHT TRESPASS: Any form of shining light emanating from a fixture that penetrates property other than that for which it is intended and permitted.

LIGHTING ZONE: A geographic area of the town as described in section 9-12-10 of this chapter. The lighting zones of the town are depicted on the map maintained in the department of community development. Such map is incorporated herein by reference and made a part of this chapter. The map shall be interpreted so that the boundaries of the lighting zones follow the centerlines of streets, roads, alleys and rights-of-way, and existing property boundaries.

LUMEN: A unit of measurement for the actual amount of visible light which is produced by a lamp as specified by the manufacturer. A foot-candle is one (1) lumen per square foot.

MOTION SENSOR: A mechanism for controlling illumination by turning lights on when activated by motion and remaining on during activity for a maximum of thirty (30) minutes following the last detection of motion.

OPAQUE LIGHT FIXTURE: An outdoor light fixture with walls that house the light source that are comprised of a solid material, unable to be permeated by light. Glass is not considered opaque; however, glass on a fixture is acceptable if the glass is flat, horizontal, and does not allow any light to be emitted above the horizontal plane.

OVERHEAD WALKWAY LIGHTING: Downcast, fully shielded small white or clear LED bulbs which provide outdoor light for the purpose of facilitating safe pedestrian traffic through a publicly owned pedestrian access corridor that is not a public street or alley.

PARKING LOT LIGHTING: Off street parking lots consisting of ten (10) or more parking spaces shall meet section 9-3-9 of this title.

PHOTOCELL: A mechanism that is activated by the absence of sunlight (and has the effect of illuminating a property all night).

PUBLIC ART: Artwork created and placed on a site in connection with the town's public art program.

RETROFIT FIXTURE: A legal nonconforming fixture as described in section 9-12-6B of this chapter that has a permanent opaque lining applied to it which extends to the lowest portion of the bulb or lower, or other permanent modification to the fixture approved by the director that brings such fixture and light source into compliance with the requirements of this section.

SECURITY LIGHTING: Lighting that is used either commercially or residentially for protection of goods or property.

SEMI-OPAQUE LIGHT FIXTURE: An outdoor light fixture with walls that are comprised of a nonopaque material such as frosted, colored glass, or a material such as mica which allows for some light trespass to be emitted through the walls of the fixture, referred to as a "glow," but such that the light source is not visible through the walls. Within semi-opaque fixtures the bulb must be recessed so that no portion of the bulb would be visible if the nonopaque material was removed. Semi-opaque is sometimes called "translucent." Clear glass is not considered semi-opaque.

UNSHIELDED FIXTURE: A light fixture shielded in such a manner that the light emitted directly from the lamp or indirectly from the fixture is projected at angles above the horizontal plane without limitation.

UPLIGHTING: Lighting that is directed in such a manner as to shine light rays above the horizontal plane. (Ord. 21, Series 2007; amd. Ord. 35, Series 2007; Ord. 30, Series 2010; Ord. 1, Series 2019; Ord. 19, Series 2020; Ord. 29, Series 2020; Ord. 6, Series 2022; Ord. 5, Series 2024)