Last Updated: 5/15/2026
Here are all the outdoor lighting codes and ordinances in Wisconsin that I am aware of. A big thank you to Scott Lind, PE, of Hollandale, Wisconsin for initially putting together this list in 2007!
Please post a comment or contact me via email if you have additions or updates to this list.
Algoma –map–
https://ecode360.com/30098944
See Sec 225-68 Site plan approval required and Sec. 225-69 Development standards, (G) Outdoor lighting and (H) Signs
Appleton –map–
https://cms2.revize.com/revize/appletonwi/Documents/Legal%20&%20Administrative%20Services/Appleton%20Municipal%20Code%20Su.pdf
See Sec. 23-53. Outdoor Lighting.
Blue Mounds –map–
https://ecode360.com/27010348
Brookfield –map–
https://www.codepublishing.com/WI/Brookfield/html/Brookfield17/Brookfield17120.html#17.120.070
Chenequa –map–
https://chenequa.org/wp-content/uploads/Documents/Ordinances/Chap5.pdf
Cloverland –map–
https://www.townofcloverland.wi.gov/ordinances#occdrw
Delafield –map–
https://library.municode.com/wi/delafield/codes/code_of_ordinances?nodeId=CH17ZOCORERE411_GEPR_17.235OULIAM491
Egg Harbor –map–
https://www.villageofeggharbor.org/admin/dm/Public/DownloadFile/?fileid=3189
Fontana-on-Geneva Lake –map–
https://library.municode.com/wi/fontana-on-geneva_lake/codes/code_of_ordinances?nodeId=PTIIMUCO_CH18ZO_ARTXDEST_S18-165EXLIST
Fox Point –map–
https://ecode360.com/14717677
Geneva –map–
https://ecode360.com/38346450#38346535
Green Lake County –map–
https://ecode360.com/9770791
Holland –map–
https://drive.google.com/file/d/0B1qD1hgbbNz-bWRSWmlkN2o0eEU/view
Kenosha –map–
https://library.municode.com/wi/kenosha/codes/code_of_ordinances?nodeId=SUHITA_CHIVHE_4.07ARLIGL
See Section 4.07 Artificial Light and Glare
Kenosha County –map–
https://kenoshacounty.municipal.codes/MCKC/12.15.010
Koshkonong –map–
https://ecode360.com/32740434
Madison –map–
https://library.municode.com/wi/madison/codes/code_of_ordinances?nodeId=COORMAWIVOIICH20–31_CH29BUCO_OULI_29.36OULI
See Section 10.085 Outdoor Lighting
Mequon –map–
https://library.municode.com/wi/mequon/codes/code_of_ordinances?nodeId=PTIICOOR_CH58PLDERE_ARTVSISTDECR_DIV2COINPAINMUMIREDE_S58-567OULIIN
Middleton –map–
https://library.municode.com/WI/Middleton/CODES/Municipal_Code?nodeId=CH33OULICO_33.05GEOULIST
Mineral Point –map–
https://skythisweek.info/mineralpointlighting.pdf
Is this lighting ordinance still in effect? I cannot find it on the Mineral Point website.
Mukwonago –map–
https://library.municode.com/wi/mukwonago/codes/code_of_ordinances
See Section e Lighting Standards
New Glarus –map–
https://ecode360.com/9806565?highlight=light,lighting,lights&searchId=23630349090344215#9806565
See Article XVIII Exterior Lighting Plans and Standards
Oconomowoc –map–
https://ecode360.com/15608531
See Section 17.211 Outdoor Lighting
Oconomowoc Lake –map–
https://webgen1files1.revize.com/oconomowoclkewi/Documents/Government/Ordinances%20and%20Codes/Zoning%20Codes/ord178.pdf?t=202512240436020&t=202512240436020
https://webgen1files1.revize.com/oconomowoclkewi/Documents/Government/Ordinances%20and%20Codes/Ordinances/ORD%20238.pdf?t=202603051145120&t=202603051145120
Perry –map–
https://www.perry-wi.gov//wp-content/uploads/2015/12/DarkSkyLightingOrdinanceAdopted0709.pdf
https://www.perry-wi.gov/?page_id=1596
Richfield –map–
https://ecode360.com/16178580
Shorewood Hills –map–
https://shorewoodhillswi.govoffice3.com/vertical/sites/%7B00D5AF3F-ADFE-4173-AF3A-FC0C1A78DA4B%7D/uploads/Ch_22_Dark_Sky.pdf?&pri=0
Springdale –map–
https://springdalewi.gov/uploads/editor/files/Ordinance/031714_pdf_Final_Dark_Sky_Lighting_Ordinance.pdf
Springfield –map–
https://www.town.springfield.wi.us/ordinances/chapter-9/
See sections 9.02(7) Exterior Lighting, and 9.04(7) Exterior Lighting Plan
Sturgeon Bay –map–
https://library.municode.com/wi/sturgeon_bay/codes/code_of_ordinances
See Section 20.12.(1)(b)12
Sussex –map–
https://www.sussexwi.gov/Home/ShowDocument?id=154
See Section 17.0608 Lighting
Westport –map–
https://www.townofwestport.org/DocumentCenter/View/459/Title-9-Chapter-7?bidId=
Whitefish Bay –map–
https://ecode360.com/33299555
See Section 16.31 III A2
Williams Bay –map–
https://ecode360.com/34350665
See Section 15.03 Outdoor Lighting and Advertising Signs
Winneconne –map–
https://ecode360.com/14487227?highlight=260#14487227
The Wisconsin State Law Library maintains a comprehensive list of Wisconsin Ordinances and Codes. This will be a good resource for us to find additional outdoor lighting codes and ordinances to be added to this list, as well as to check your local government’s codes and ordinances in general.
It is interesting to note that nearly two-thirds of these ordinances are for suburban communities in very light-polluted metro areas. Another four ordinances are no doubt in place to help protect the Yerkes Observatory (Williams Bay, Geneva, Fontana-on-Geneva Lake, and Delavan). Where are the rural ordinances and dark sky preserves? Since there are very few remaining locations in Wisconsin where the night sky is truly dark, shouldn’t we be aggressively protecting those areas? Wouldn’t it be easier to save a pristine area than to restore an almost hopelessly polluted one? Another interesting point is that upscale suburban communities are much more likely to have a lighting ordinance than more affordable communities. Some subdivisions even exclude streetlights, but these are almost never places where most of us can afford to live.