Outdoor Lighting in Waukesha County, WI (2026)

2 county-level rules, plus city-specific rules for 1 city in Waukesha County, Wisconsin.

Verified from official government sources

Note: These county rules apply to unincorporated areas of Waukesha County. If you live within an incorporated city, that city's own rules apply: see the city list below.

Dark Sky Rules

Waukesha County's operative outdoor lighting standard requires off-street parking area lights to use cutoff or decorative fixtures that avoid glare onto neighboring properties, with light poles capped at 25 feet unless the Zoning Administrator grants a site-specific waiver.

Outdoor Lighting Shielding Rules in Waukesha County

Some Restrictions

Waukesha County Basic Zoning Ordinance Sec. 3.12(4)(A)5.a, .c

5. Lighting. Lights provided in any parking area shall be hooded or beamed so as not to create undesirable glare or illumination of adjacent residential properties. a. Lights shall be cut off type fixtures or decorative fixtures that do not direct light at abutting properties. b. Lights levels shall not exceed 0.2 footcandles at residential property lines and 0.5 footcandles at all other proper...

Full ordinance details →Official source ↗

Light Trespass & Shielding

Off-street parking lighting in unincorporated Waukesha County towns cannot exceed 0.2 footcandles measured at a residential property line, or 0.5 footcandles at any other property line, under the county's parking lot design standard.

Light Trespass Limits in Waukesha County

Some Restrictions

Waukesha County Basic Zoning Ordinance Sec. 3.12(4)(A)5.b

5. Lighting. Lights provided in any parking area shall be hooded or beamed so as not to create undesirable glare or illumination of adjacent residential properties. a. Lights shall be cut off type fixtures or decorative fixtures that do not direct light at abutting properties. b. Lights levels shall not exceed 0.2 footcandles at residential property lines and 0.5 footcandles at all other proper...

Full ordinance details →Official source ↗

Outdoor Lighting by City in Waukesha County

1 cities in Waukesha County have their own outdoor lighting rules. Each link goes to that city's dedicated page with code citations.

WaukeshaPop. 71,158

3 verified rules • Billboard Lighting, Dark Sky Rules

All Waukesha County ordinances

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