Outdoor Lighting in Pontiac, MI (2026)
3 verified outdoor lighting rules for Pontiac, Michigan, sourced directly from the municipal code and official government pages.
Verified from official government sources
Dark Sky Rules
In the City of Pontiac, Zoning Ordinance § 4.502 requires every exterior lighting fixture to be fully shielded and directed downward at a 90-degree angle, using full cutoff housings that block off-site glare. Fixtures are capped at 250 watts unless the Planning Commission approves up to 400 watts for a demonstrated site need. Oblique lenses on wall-pack fixtures are banned outright.
Pontiac Exterior Lighting Shielding Rules
Some RestrictionsPontiac Zoning Ordinance § 4.502.A & § 4.502.D.1
A. Shielding. Exterior lighting shall be fully shielded and directed downward at a 90 degree angle. Oblique lenses (such as many wall-pack fixtures) are prohibited. All fixtures shall incorporate full cutoff housings, louvers, glare shields, optics, reflectors or other measures to prevent off-site glare and minimize light pollution. Only flat lenses are permitted on shoebox-style light fixtures...
Light Trespass & Shielding
Zoning Ordinance § 4.502 in the City of Pontiac limits how much light can spill onto a neighbor's land. Intensity at any property line other than a street right-of-way cannot exceed 0.5 footcandles, rises to 1 footcandle (or the street lighting average, up to 5) at a right-of-way, and no fixture's light-emitting element may be visible from next door.
Pontiac Light Trespass & Glare Limits
Some RestrictionsPontiac Zoning Ordinance § 4.502.B & § 4.502.C
2. Maximum Intensity at Street Right-of-Way. The maximum light intensity permitted at a street right-of-way line shall be one (1) footcandle, or the average light intensity generated by public street lighting at the property line (up to a limit of 5 foot candles), whichever is greater. 3. Maximum Intensity at Property Lines. The maximum light intensity permitted at any property line other...
Billboard Lighting
Zoning Ordinance § 5.105.G governs billboard lighting in the City of Pontiac. An illuminated billboard must sit at least 300 feet from a residential zone or existing residence, double the standard 200-foot setback for unlit signs. Illumination must come from external lighting only, aimed so it does not glare onto the street or nearby premises, and internal illumination is barred unless the sign is an approved electronic conversion.
Pontiac Billboard Illumination Rules
Significant RestrictionsPontiac Zoning Ordinance § 5.105.G.3.c & § 5.105.G.9
c. Set back from residential districts. No billboard shall be located within 200 feet of a residential zone and/or existing residence. If the billboard is illuminated, this required distance shall instead be 300 feet. ... ... 9. Illumination. A billboard may be illuminated by external lighting only, provided such illumination is concentrated on the surface of the sign and is so located as to av...
Looking for Oakland County county-wide rules?
County ordinances apply to unincorporated areas and may supplement Pontiac city rules.
Outdoor Lighting in Oakland County →