Middleton, WI Outdoor Lighting: Dark Sky Rules (2026)
Key Facts
- Effective date
- March 3, 2026 (Ord. O1671)
- Shielding trigger
- Luminaires over 1,000 lumens
- Max upward spill
- 5% above 80° from Nadir
- Max color temperature
- 3,000 K
- Curfew
- Non-essential lighting off 10pm-sunrise
- Enforcement
- Forfeiture under § 33.09
Summary
Middleton's Outdoor Lighting Code, effective March 3, 2026, requires any luminaire over 1,000 lumens to be fully shielded and caps upward light spill at 5 percent, aiming to preserve the naturally dark sky for residents and wildlife under Chapter 33.
This outdoor lighting ordinance is intended to protect the health and welfare of all residents within the City of Middleton, enhance its attractiveness and quality of life, prevent inappropriate and poorly installed outdoor lighting, reduce lighting conflicts between property owners, prevent the increase of potentially harmful sky glow, and preserve the naturally dark sky for the benefit of residents, visitors, wildlife, and the environment. ... Fully Shielded. A Luminaire designed or shielded in such a manner that no light is emitted, either directly or indirectly, at or above a horizontal plane running through the lowest light-emitting part of the luminaire. ... Unless otherwise specified in this ordinance, l ... uminaires emitting more than 1,000 lumens shall be Fully Shielded and shall emit no more than 5% of their total Lumen output above 80 degrees from Nadir.
Official source re-checked September 7, 2026: no newer edition of the code had been published (publisher’s edition: Municipal Code: Supplement 3 Update 1).
Full Breakdown
Chapter 33, adopted by Ord. No. 01). 03). 07(1)(c)). 07(1)(h)). 03). 04(2)). 05(6)).
Violations & Fines
Violating any shielding, output, or curfew standard in Chapter 33 is enforceable by forfeiture of no less than the fee set in the City's adopted fee schedule under Section 33.09, with each day of violation a separate offense; the City may also sue to enjoin continued violations. Nuisance-level glare or trespass may additionally be prosecuted as a public nuisance under Chapter 17 or Wis. Stat. Chapter 823.
Frequently Asked Questions
Does Middleton require outdoor lights to be shielded?
Is my existing outdoor lighting grandfathered?
How bright can outdoor LEDs be in Middleton?
Sources & Official References
Other rules in Middleton
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Dark Sky Rules in Nearby Cities
How other cities in Dane County handle dark sky rules.