Madison MGO §28.140 and Dane County zoning require full-cutoff fixtures for commercial and multifamily outdoor lighting. Max 0.5 foot-candle spillover at residential property lines. No county-wide dark-sky ordinance, but UW-Madison Washburn Observatory influences local practice.
Madison General Ordinance §28.140 (Exterior Lighting) requires all new commercial, industrial, and multi-family outdoor fixtures to be full-cutoff (fully shielded) with no light emitted above the horizontal plane. Parking lot light poles are limited to 25 feet in most districts, 35 feet in industrial zones. Maximum illuminance at a residential property line is 0.5 foot-candle. Dane County zoning (Ch. 10) imposes similar full-cutoff requirements in rural subdivisions and commercial districts. Fitchburg, Middleton, Verona, Sun Prairie, Stoughton, and Monona each adopt full-cutoff standards in their zoning codes. Color temperature is not capped statewide, but Madison encourages 3000K or warmer LEDs. Single-family residential porch and yard lighting is largely exempt from shielding requirements but remains subject to nuisance and light-trespass rules. Wisconsin has no statewide dark-sky statute.
Non-compliant commercial fixture: notice plus 60-day retrofit deadline, then forfeiture $100-$500 per day. Parking lot over height limit: zoning enforcement action, up to $1,000 per violation.
Middleton, WI
Middleton regulates amplified music under its general noise ordinance. The Good Neighbor Festival and Hubbard Avenue Diner summer events have special noise p...
Middleton, WI
Middleton considers excessive barking a nuisance. Animal control handles complaints. WI Stat. §174 covers dog regulation statewide.
Middleton, WI
Middleton enforces quiet hours typically 10 PM to 7 AM. Noise disturbances enforceable under WI Stat. §947.01 (Disorderly Conduct).
Middleton, WI
Middleton enforces alternate-side parking November 15 through March 15 and 48-hour maximum street parking year-round. Snow emergencies trigger full parking b...
Middleton, WI
Middleton restricts commercial vehicle parking in residential zones. Weight, size, and signage limits apply. Overnight heavy truck storage prohibited.
Middleton, WI
Middleton requires vehicles parked on improved surfaces. Front lawn parking prohibited. Driveway modifications require permits.
Side-by-side rule comparisons with other cities in Dane County.
See how Middleton's dark sky rules rules stack up against other locations.
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