Livonia, MI Outdoor Lighting: Dark Sky Rules (2026)

Section 7.22 of the Zoning Ordinance regulates outdoor lighting citywide with the stated purpose of discouraging glare, light trespass, light pollution, and sky glow while still providing enough light for security. Subsection (2)(A) requires that all outdoor lighting in every use district other than residential be shielded so that the surface of the light source itself is not visible from an adjacent residential district, an adjacent residence, or the public right-of-way. Fixtures must be directed toward and confined to the ground, using full cut-off designs that prevent light from projecting above a 90-degree horizontal plane, effectively barring uplighting-style fixtures that throw light sideways or into the sky.

The section pairs shielding with a table of maximum illumination levels: parking areas, loading areas, and residential sidewalks are capped at 1.0 foot-candle average, frequent-use building entrances at 5.0 foot-candles, and gas station canopies at 20.0 foot-candles. Fixture height is separately capped at 20 feet in non-industrial districts and up to 35 feet in industrial districts or large commercial developments, subject to a finding of no adverse impact. Flashing, moving, or intermittent illumination is banned outright, outdoor recreational facilities cannot stay lit past 11:00 p.m. except to finish an event already underway, and laser or searchlight advertising is prohibited. Governmental right-of-way lighting, holiday lighting, and temporary festival or construction lighting are exempt.