Outdoor Lighting in Sauk County, WI (2026)
3 rules for unincorporated Sauk County, Wisconsin.
Verified from official government sources
Dark Sky Rules
Sauk County requires every outdoor light fixture covering a parking, loading, or circulation area in unincorporated Sauk County to be fully shielded, cutting artificial sky glow. Section 7.091(7) also requires the light to be angled downward and directed away from neighboring properties, applying anywhere a land use permit triggers the county's parking and loading standards.
Sauk County Outdoor Light Shielding Rule
Some RestrictionsSauk County Code § 7.091(7)(a)
(7)Lighting. Any lighting used to illuminate parking areas shall be directed away from adjacent properties and shall not cast any glare on public rights-of-way. Lighting shall be angled downwards.(a)All outdoor luminaires subject to this section shall be fully shielded lighting fixtures to minimize artificial sky glow.
Light Trespass & Shielding
Sauk County bars outdoor lighting from spilling past the property line. Section 7.091(7)(b) requires every outdoor fixture covered by the county's parking and loading standards to be placed so it doesn't trespass or glare onto a neighbor's land, and Section 7.091(7)(c) separately bans any light above the horizontal plane measured at the fixture.
Sauk County Light Trespass Placement Rule
Some RestrictionsSauk County Code § 7.091(7)(b)-(c)
(b)All outdoor lighting fixtures shall be placed to prevent light trespass or glare beyond the property line.(c)All outdoor lighting shall be of a type and placement to prevent any light above the horizontal plane, as measured at the luminaire.
Billboard Lighting
Sauk County Code § 7.128 limits any externally illuminated sign, including the off-premises billboards allowed under § 7.130, to four downward-angled lights aimed only at the copy area, bans glare that impairs a driver's vision, and caps electronic message brightness at 5,000 nits by day and 500 nits from dusk to dawn. Illuminated signs are confined to commercial, industrial and recreational commercial zoning districts.
Billboard and Sign Lighting Rules, Sauk County
Some RestrictionsSauk County Code § 7.128
Sec. 7.128. - Illumination. (1)Light number and direction. Signs that are illuminated from an external source shall have a maximum of four external lights directed at only the copy area from a downward angle attached to the top of the sign or sign structure.(2)Glare. Signs that are not effectively shielded to prevent beams or rays of light from being directed at any portion of a road and that a...
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