Outdoor Lighting in Sterling Heights, MI (2026)
2 verified outdoor lighting rules for Sterling Heights, Michigan, sourced directly from the municipal code and official government pages.
Verified from official government sources
Dark Sky Rules
Sterling Heights requires exterior fixtures, including wall-packs, to be fully shielded and pointed downward so no light escapes above the horizontal plane, cutting sky-glow under the zoning lighting standards.
Sterling Heights Dark-Sky Lighting Rule
Some RestrictionsSterling Heights Zoning Ordinance § 24.06.C.1
In order to prevent sky-glow, exterior lighting (including wall-pack fixtures) shall be fully shielded and downward directed. No light that is emitted from the fixture shall project above a 90-degree horizontal plane running through the bottom of the lowest part of the fixture. Exterior mounted incandescent light bulbs 100 watts or less, and exterior lighting directly illuminating a United Stat...
Light Trespass & Shielding
Sterling Heights caps how much light a site can throw, from 2 footcandles in security areas up to 30 near auto-dealer lots, to curb glare and light pollution under the zoning lighting rules.
Sterling Heights Outdoor Lighting Intensity Limits
Some RestrictionsSterling Heights Zoning Ordinance § 24.06.D
D. Permitted light intensity. Maximum average lighting intensity on any particular part of the site shall not exceed the standards set forth below: ... General 3 ... Driveways 3 ... Walkways 5 ... Building Entrances 10 ... Parking Lots 5 ... Display Areas of Vehicle Dealerships 25 ... Pump Canopy Areas of Gasoline Stations 25
Looking for Macomb County county-wide rules?
County ordinances apply to unincorporated areas and may supplement Sterling Heights city rules.
Outdoor Lighting in Macomb County →