Maple Grove, MN Outdoor Lighting: Light Trespass (2026)

Maple Grove addresses light trespass through the glare and lighting standards in Section 36-793 of its zoning ordinance. The code sets a foot-candle limit on spill light: any light or combination of lights that casts light onto a public street may not exceed one foot-candle (meter reading) measured from the centerline of the street. The ordinance similarly limits light cast onto residential property, measured at the property line, and requires that lighting used for off-street parking areas, signs, or other structures be arranged to deflect light away from any adjoining residential zone. In addition, bare incandescent bulbs may not be visible from adjacent properties, and direct or sky-reflected glare from floodlights or high-temperature processes may not be directed onto neighboring property. Together these provisions are Maple Grove's light-trespass controls: a property owner cannot let exterior lighting spill measurable brightness onto a neighbor's residential lot or wash across the public street beyond the allowed limit. Residents experiencing light trespass from a neighboring property can report it to Community & Economic Development at 763-494-6040, which administers the zoning performance standards. Because the exact residential foot-candle figure is set in the ordinance, confirm the current number with the city.