Neenah, WI Outdoor Lighting: Dark Sky Rules (2026)
Key Facts
- Residential property line cap
- 0.0 fc above ambient
- Non-residential property line cap
- 0.5 fc above ambient
- Site average cap
- 1.5 foot-candles
- Adopted
- Ord. 2023-05, 3-15-2023
Summary
Neenah bars commercial, industrial, and multi-family lighting from spilling above ambient levels onto neighboring homes and requires full cut-off, downward-directed fixtures under its 2023 outdoor lighting ordinance.
The illumination level at any property line shall not exceed: a. 0.0 foot candles above ambient lighting conditions on a cloudless night when the adjoining property is a single-family or two-family use or zoned R-1, Single-Family Residence District or R-2, Two-Family Residence District. b. The maximum illumination for adjacent, non-residentially used or zoned property shall not exceed 0.5 foot candles above ambient lighting conditions on a cloudless night.
Official source re-checked September 7, 2026: no newer edition of the code had been published (publisher’s edition: Code of Ordinances: Supplement 44).
Full Breakdown
Neenah Municipal Code §§ 26-676, 26-679, and 26-680, adopted by Ord. No. 2023-05 on March 15, 2023, govern outdoor lighting for commercial, industrial, and multi-family sites (single-family and two-family home lighting, street lights, and temporary event lighting are exempt). Light spilling onto a property line next to an R-1 or R-2 use can't exceed ambient conditions at all; next to other non-residential property the cap is 0.5 foot-candles above ambient, and the site average can't top 1.5 foot-candles. Fixtures must be full cut-off, directing light only downward, with flood and spot lights banned, mounting capped at 25 feet or the building's height, and a ten-foot setback from every property line.
Violations & Fines
Installing a floodlight, spotlight, or fixture that isn't full cut-off, mounting above 25 feet, or exceeding the property-line light caps violates §§ 26-679–26-680 and can hold up site plan approval.
Frequently Asked Questions
Does this lighting rule apply to my house?
How bright can a business's parking lot lights be at my property line?
Sources & Official References
Other rules in Neenah
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