Appleton, WI Outdoor Lighting: Dark Sky Rules (2026)
Key Facts
- Fixture type required
- full cutoff, shielded design
- Direction required
- downward, away from adjoining property
- Lighting plan
- required before any building permit
- Photometric detail
- point-to-point every 10 feet
- Reviewing agencies
- Police and Community Development Depts.
Summary
Appleton requires all exterior lighting to use full cutoff fixtures directed downward and away from neighboring property, with a lighting plan and photometric calculations reviewed before any building permit is issued.
(1) All exterior lighting shall be of full cutoff design and directed downward and away from adjoining property, with luminaries shielded to prevent unnecessary glare as identified in the graphic on the next page.
Official source re-checked September 7, 2026: the cited page had not changed since it was quoted.
Full Breakdown
Sec. 23-53(c)(1) requires all exterior lighting citywide to be of full cutoff design, directed downward and away from adjoining property, with luminaires shielded to prevent unnecessary glare. A full cutoff fixture is defined in Sec. 23-53(b)(2) as one that, by the design of its housing, does not allow any light dispersion or direct glare above a 90-degree horizontal plane from the fixture's base. Sec. ' The plan must include point-to-point photometric calculations at intervals of no more than ten feet at ground level, based on manufacturer 'mean' light output data.
Sec. 5 to 5 foot-candles for outdoor display and sales areas and up to 5 foot-candles for parking lots, with the Appleton Police Department and Community Development Department jointly assigning the applicable activity category based on use, hours of operation, and location. Security lighting fixtures must also carry weather- and vandal-resistant covering and be shielded to minimize intrusiveness on adjacent properties under Sec. 23-53(c)(5).
Violations & Fines
Failure to install full cutoff, downward-shielded fixtures, or failure to adhere to an approved lighting plan, is a violation of Sec. 23-53 under its enforcement clause, Sec. 23-53(k), and is enforced under Sec. 23-69 by the Inspections Supervisor. Sec. 1-16 sets the general forfeiture at $1.00 to $200.00 plus costs of prosecution for a first offense and $10.00 to $500.00 plus costs for a repeat violation, with jail possible in default of payment.
Frequently Asked Questions
Does Appleton require shielded outdoor lighting?
Do I need a lighting plan for a building permit in Appleton?
Who reviews outdoor lighting intensity standards in Appleton?
Sources & Official References
Other rules in Appleton
Compare Appleton to another location·View the Wisconsin outdoor lighting overview
See something wrong?
Help us keep this page accurate. If you notice an error or outdated information, let us know.