Rochester Hills, MI Outdoor Lighting: Light Trespass & Shielding (2026)
Key Facts
- Residential property line limit
- 0.1 footcandle
- Nonresidential abutting limit
- 0.3 footcandle
- Shielding required above
- 400 lumens
- Pole height near residential
- 15 feet max
- Non-residential lights off
- midnight to sunrise
- First zoning violation fine
- $70
Summary
Rochester Hills caps how much light can spill onto neighboring property under the zoning ordinance's exterior lighting chapter. Light levels at the property line cannot exceed 0.1 footcandles where a site abuts a right-of-way or a residential lot, rising to 0.3 footcandles next to nonresidential uses, and any fixture over 400 lumens must be fully shielded.
B.Glare. Exterior lighting sources in all districts shall be designed, constructed, located and maintained in a manner that does not cause off-site glare on neighboring properties or street rights-of-way. Except as otherwise permitted, the light emitting element of any light fixture shall not be directly visible from a neighboring property, as this is the primary cause of glare. The light emitting element of any light fixture that exceeds 400 lumens shall be fully shielded.C.Light trespass. Light levels shall not exceed 0.1 footcandles at the property line where the site abuts a public right-of-way or a lot with a residential use or zoning. Where the site abuts a non-residential use, light levels at the property line shall not exceed 0.3 footcandles.
Full Breakdown
Article 10, Chapter 2 of the Rochester Hills Zoning Ordinance (Sections 138-10.200 through 138-10.207) governs every exterior light source visible from a right-of-way, easement or adjacent parcel. Section 138-10.202.A requires fixtures to be fully shielded and aimed straight down at a 90-degree angle, with full cutoff housings, louvers or glare shields; oblique wall-pack lenses and sag or protruding lenses are barred outright. Section 138-10.202.B bars off-site glare in every district and requires full shielding on any fixture exceeding 400 lumens. Section 138-10.202.C sets the numeric light trespass ceiling: 0.1 footcandles at the property line abutting a right-of-way or a residential lot or zoning, and 0.3 footcandles where the abutting use is nonresidential.
Section 138-10.203.A layers on a height limit: freestanding pole and building-mounted fixtures max out at 20 feet, dropping to 15 feet where the pole sits in a residential district or within 50 feet of residentially zoned or used property. Non-residential lighting must run on automatic timers and switch off between midnight and sunrise under Section 138-10.202.F, except for security lighting, which should dim or shut off via sensors when the site is inactive. LED sources are capped at a 3,000K color temperature. A property owner who cannot meet a standard may seek a waiver from the Planning Commission or the Planning and Economic Development Director under Section 138-10.206, but only on a showing of a safety or design factor unique to the site plus a commitment to using the minimum light intensity adequate for the purpose.
Violations & Fines
A light trespass complaint is enforced as a municipal civil infraction under Section 138-1.401, tied to the citywide fine schedule at Section 66-37: a first zoning violation carries a $70 civil fine, a first repeat $150, and a second or subsequent repeat $500, plus costs of prosecution. Section 138-10.207 puts the burden on the property owner to verify compliance once an investigation flags a site, and each day the condition continues is a separate offense under Section 138-1.405.
Frequently Asked Questions
What is the maximum light trespass allowed at my property line in Rochester Hills?
Do all outdoor fixtures need shielding?
Can a business run parking lot lights all night?
Who enforces a light trespass complaint?
Sources & Official References
Other rules in Rochester Hills
Compare Rochester Hills to another location·View the Michigan outdoor lighting overview
See something wrong?
Help us keep this page accurate. If you notice an error or outdated information, let us know.
Light Trespass & Shielding in Nearby Cities
How other cities in Oakland County handle light trespass & shielding.