Outdoor Lighting in Grand Rapids, MI (2026)
3 verified outdoor lighting rules for Grand Rapids, Michigan, sourced directly from the municipal code and official government pages.
Verified from official government sources
Dark Sky Rules
Grand Rapids' zoning code requires High Intensity Discharge fixtures on reviewed outdoor lighting installations to keep a unified citywide standard and cut sky glow, and it flatly prohibits high-pressure sodium fixtures.
Grand Rapids Bans High-Pressure Sodium Fixtures
Some RestrictionsGrand Rapids City Code § 5.2.19.C.6.c
High Intensity Discharge (HID) fixtures shall be used in an effort to maintain a unified lighting standard throughout the city and prevent "sky glow." High pressure sodium fixtures shall be prohibited.d.The Director may approve decorative light fixtures as an alternative to shielded fixtures when it can be demonstrated that there shall be no off-site glare or illumination and the proposed fixtu...
Light Trespass & Shielding
Security lights in Grand Rapids must be shielded, full cut-off fixtures aimed only at the area they protect; general floodlighting and lights aimed above the fixture's own horizontal plane are prohibited.
Grand Rapids Requires Shielded Security Lighting
Some RestrictionsGrand Rapids City Code § 5.2.19.D.2.c
All security fixtures shall be shielded and aimed so that illumination is directed only to designated areas. In no case shall lighting be directed above a horizontal plane through the top of the lighting fixture, and the fixture shall include full cut-off shields that prevent the light source or lens from being visible on adjacent lots and streets. The use of general floodlighting fixtures is n...
Billboard Lighting
Grand Rapids caps digital billboard brightness at 0.3 footcandles of ambient light and bans flashing, moving, or scrolling displays.
Grand Rapids Digital Billboard Brightness Limit
Some RestrictionsGrand Rapids City Code § 5.15.03.I.3.d.v.3
To prevent glare, digital billboards shall not operate at a brightness level greater than 0.3 foot candles of ambient light, as may be further limited by this Section or other City Codes. Digital billboards shall not display any illumination by flashing, intermittent or moving lights, and will not contain or display animated, moving video or scrolling elements. Digital billboards shall have ins...
Looking for Kent County county-wide rules?
County ordinances apply to unincorporated areas and may supplement Grand Rapids city rules.
Outdoor Lighting in Kent County →