Marathon County, WI Outdoor Lighting: Dark Sky Rules (2026)
Key Facts
- Shielding
- Full cutoff, downward at 90°
- Wattage cap
- 250 watts per fixture typical max
- Pole height near homes
- 15 ft within 50 ft of residential
- Coverage
- Unincorporated towns adopting county zoning only
Summary
In towns under county zoning, exterior lighting must be fully shielded and aimed straight down: oblique wall-pack lenses are banned, and fixtures need full cutoff housings to cut off-site glare and light pollution.
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; sag or protruding lenses are prohibited. See Figure 3 below:
Figure 3: LIGHT FIXTURE ORIENTATION AND SHIELDING Figure 3: LIGHT FIXTURE ORIENTATION AND SHIELDING
Official source re-checked September 7, 2026: no newer edition of the code had been published (publisher’s edition: Code of Ordinances: Supplement 59).
Full Breakdown
Sec. 17.403.04.A requires all exterior lighting to be fully shielded and directed downward at a 90-degree angle, banning oblique lenses common on wall-pack fixtures and requiring full cutoff housings, louvers, glare shields, or similar measures. Only flat lenses are allowed on shoebox-style fixtures. The chapter also caps most lamps at 250 watts (Sec. 17.403.04.C.1) and pole height at 25 feet, dropping to 15 feet within 50 feet of a residential property (Sec. 17.403.05.A). This applies only in unincorporated towns that have adopted the county's zoning ordinance.
Violations & Fines
Non-compliant fixtures are a zoning violation under Sec. 17.807; the Zoning Administrator can require a corrected lighting plan and enforce a forfeiture under Ch. 25.04 for continued non-compliance.
Frequently Asked Questions
Does Marathon County require dark-sky-friendly lighting?
Is there a wattage limit on outdoor light fixtures?
Sources & Official References
Other rules in Marathon County
Compare Marathon County 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 If you notice an error or outdated information, let us know.