Outdoor Lighting in Farmington Hills, MI (2026)

Dark Sky Rules

Outdoor lighting in Farmington Hills is governed by the Zoning Chapter 34 of the Code of Ordinances, specifically Sec. 34-5.16 (Exterior Lighting), as substantially revised by Ordinance No. C-7-2013 adopted by the City Council on August 12, 2013. The ordinance requires that all outdoor lighting be installed in conformance with the Zoning Ordinance, applicable Electrical and Energy Codes, and applicable sections of the Michigan Building Code. Exterior lights of more than 1,400 lumens are permitted only if the light source is down-lit to reduce intensity and glare and is arranged to reflect lights away from all sides (i.e., toward the ground and away from adjacent properties and the public right-of-way). Flood or spotlights used for external illumination with a lamp rated at 900 lumens or less are permitted in any use district provided they are not aimed, directed, or focused toward residential districts or uses or toward a public street. Site-plan-approval projects (commercial, multi-family, mixed-use, institutional) must comply with additional Sec. 34-5.16 requirements during Planning Department review. Michigan has NO state dark-sky law and Farmington Hills is NOT listed on DarkSky International's roster of certified communities; the controls in Sec. 34-5.16 are the city's dark-sky-style framework. The 2015 Michigan Building Code (adopted via MCL 125.1502 / Stille-DeRossett-Hale Single State Construction Code Act) is the underlying construction-code reference; Michigan has not adopted the 2018 or 2021 ICC cycles.