Appleton, WI Outdoor Lighting: Light Trespass & Shielding (2026)
Key Facts
- Residential district cap
- 0.20 foot-candles at property line
- Commercial/industrial cap
- 0.50 foot-candles at property line
- Exempted lighting
- public street lighting only
- Compliance methods
- shielding, aim, height, location
- Governing section
- Sec. 23-53(g)
Summary
Appleton caps light spilling onto neighboring property at 0.20 foot-candles for residential and most institutional districts and 0.50 foot-candles for commercial and industrial districts, measured at the property line.
(g) Light trespass. All areas containing outdoor lighting (except public street lighting) shall limit light trespass onto adjacent property, when measured at any point along a property line, to the requirements set forth below... District Adjoining Subject Property / Maximum Light Spillage to Adjoining Lots Measured in Foot-candles: AG, R-1A, R-1B, R-1C, R-2, R-3, P-I, NC, C-O, TND: 0.20. C-1, C-2, CBD, P, M-1, M-2: 0.50.
Official source re-checked September 7, 2026: the cited page had not changed since it was quoted.
Full Breakdown
Sec. 23-53(g) applies to all areas with outdoor lighting except public street lighting and requires that light trespass onto adjacent property, measured at any point along the property line, stay within a fixed table of maximums. The code defines light trespass in Sec. 50 foot-candle ceiling for lots adjoining the C-1, C-2, CBD, P, M-1, and M-2 districts. Sec. 23-53(g) allows compliance to be achieved through fixture shielding, directional control built into the fixture, fixture location, height, aim, or a combination of these methods, giving property owners flexibility in how they meet the cap rather than mandating a specific fixture type.
Neon lighting is excluded from general shielding and line-of-sight rules but is still subject to these same light trespass maximums under Sec. 23-53(i). Temporary lighting for festivals, celebrations, and holiday observances is exempt from Sec. 23-53 generally, but Sec. 23-53(l)(2) still requires that light trespass be considered before that temporary lighting is used.
Violations & Fines
Exceeding the 0.20 or 0.50 foot-candle light trespass ceiling at a property line violates Sec. 23-53(g) and is a violation of Sec. 23-53's enforcement clause, Sec. 23-53(k), enforced under Sec. 23-69 by the Inspections Supervisor. Sec. 1-16 sets the penalty at $1.00 to $200.00 forfeiture plus prosecution costs for a first offense and $10.00 to $500.00 plus costs for a repeat offense, with jail possible in default of payment.
Frequently Asked Questions
How much light can spill onto my neighbor's yard in Appleton?
Is street lighting subject to Appleton's light trespass rule?
Do holiday lights have to meet Appleton's light trespass limit?
Sources & Official References
Other rules in Appleton
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Light Trespass & Shielding in Nearby Cities
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