Milwaukee, WI Outdoor Lighting: Light Trespass & Shielding (2026)
Key Facts
- Nuisance hours
- 6 p.m. to 7 a.m.
- Spill light threshold
- 0.2 foot-candles at 4 ft
- Glare test
- line of sight at 5 ft, causes discomfort
- Trigger
- written complaint only
- Applies to
- existing installations too
Summary
Artificial light that spills onto a neighboring residential property, or glares or flickers into it, between 6 p.m. and 7 a.m. is a declared nuisance under Milwaukee's code, enforced only on a resident's written complaint.
GLARE AND SPILL LIGHT
DECLARED A NUISANCE. Glare, spill and
intermittent artificial light impacting on residential
properties between the hours of 6 p.m. and 7 a.m.
which causes loss of enjoyment, comfort or
repose, and use of such properties is declared a
nuisance.
3. NUISANCE DETERMINED. a. Spill
light shall be considered a nuisance when
measurement in the nearest habitable area of the
residential property at the location where the
alleged nuisance occurs reveals that such light
produces 0.2 horizontal foot candles or more at
approximately 4 feet from the ground or floor
surface at which the measurement is taken. Such
measurements shall be taken by department
personnel utilizing appropriate equipment and
techniques.
b. Glare light shall be considered a
nuisance when an artificial light source has not
been properly located, shielded, directed or
controlled, and as a result there is a direct line of
sight between the light source or its reflection and
a point 5 feet above the ground or higher in the
nearest habitable area on the complainant's
property and of such intensity as to cause
discomfort or annoyance.
c. Intermittent light shall be considered
a nuisance when it impacts upon a habitable area
of a complainant's property with such intensity
and variance as to cause discomfort or
annoyance.
4. PRODUCTION
OF
LIGHT
NUISANCE PROHIBITED. No artificial light
Full Breakdown
Milwaukee Code of Ordinances § 80-19 declares glare, spill light and intermittent artificial light impacting a residential property between 6 p.m. and 7 a.m. a nuisance when it causes loss of enjoyment, comfort, repose or use. Spill light is a nuisance once it measures 0.2 horizontal foot-candles or more, taken about 4 feet up in the nearest habitable area of the affected property. Glare is a nuisance when an unshielded or misdirected light source creates a direct line of sight to a point 5 feet above the ground in that habitable area with enough intensity to cause discomfort. City, county or state lights on public ways are exempt, as are lights legally required for safety with no practical way to control them. Enforcement runs only on a written complaint filed by an adult city resident with the health department or department of neighborhood services, which then investigates.
Violations & Fines
Health dept./neighborhood services investigates only after a resident files a written, signed complaint naming the light source and address; violators must eliminate the nuisance, including on existing installations.
Frequently Asked Questions
Does a neighbor's spotlight shining into my yard break Milwaukee's code?
How do I report a neighbor's nuisance light in Milwaukee?
Are streetlights or security lights exempt from Milwaukee's light-trespass rule?
Sources & Official References
Other rules in Milwaukee
Compare Milwaukee to another location·View the Wisconsin outdoor lighting overview
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Light Trespass & Shielding in Nearby Cities
How other cities in Milwaukee County handle light trespass & shielding.