Model Lighting Ordinance (MLO) Alternative Method to Dark Sky Ordinance

How do you know if your project will require the MLO alternate method for compliance?

1. Will ground mounted luminaires be utilized? (landscape lighting, in-grade lighting, or lighting for signs, statues, or monuments?
2. Will façade lighting be required?
3. Will you need more than the allowable lumens for your project? (7000 base lumens plus 2.5 lumens per square foot of hardscape)
4. Is your design complex?

If you answered “yes” to any of these questions, your project would require the MLO alternate method for compliance.

How DHS Lighting Design Can Help

We can be there for any part of the MLO process. However, the earlier the lighting design is addressed for your project, the better prepared you will be for meeting compliance of the ordinance. When DHS begins Schematic Design on our projects, our concept development begins laying the groundwork for delivering the completed design to the project. As the lighting design continues through Design Development and Construction Documentation, MLO compliance is planned, maintained and completed for submission.

DHS Lighting Design can also help minimize the impact that bid, negotiation and the value engineering processes have on the project. We can also help with approval of luminaire substitutions after the initial submission to Metro Codes and Planning.

Important Links

DHS Lighting Design recently participated in the Dark Sky Lighting Ordinance webinar with Burkley Allen, Metro Council-at-Large, who was the author of this bill. Danny Streit covered Nashville Metro/Davidson County CODES pertaining to this ordinance as well as the alternate MLO method to the ordinance.   

You can watch the recording of the webinar below:

Should you need additional information, please contact Danny Streit, Design Principal and Owner of DHS Lighting Design. You can reach him at 615.495.9401 or danny.streit@dhslightingdesign.com.