Novi, MI Outdoor Lighting: Light Trespass & Shielding (2026)

Section 21-200 of the Novi City Code, adopted by Ordinance No. 12-179 on August 27, 2012, defines light trespass as light that illuminates a surface beyond the boundaries of the property on which it is located, and defines glare as brightness sufficiently greater than the eye's adaptation level to cause loss of visibility or endanger public health, safety or welfare. Section 21-203(a) turns that definition into a hard number: it is unlawful to have or cause exterior or interior lighting from any fixture that creates illumination greater than one-half footcandle measured at any point on the property line adjacent to residential premises.

Section 21-203(c) separately bars any lighting that causes glare, whether from indoor or outdoor fixtures. The footcandle cap does not apply to the exemptions listed in Section 21-202: emergency and municipal vehicles, lighting on public property, utility emergency repairs, lighting shown on an approved site plan, seasonal decorations of 60 days or less that avoid trespass or glare, covered-porch fixtures of 1,700 lumens or less, and motion-activated security lights limited to 15 minutes per activation and not triggered by routine outdoor traffic. Section 21-204 makes exceeding the cap a civil infraction, with each day of the ongoing spillover a separate violation, and Section 1-11(c)(2) sets the fine at $200 for a first offense, rising to $500 for a repeat within three years.

Section 21-205 places responsibility on the property owner of record, identified from city tax records, whether or not the owner lives on site, while occupants share responsibility as well.