Racine County, WI Outdoor Lighting: Light Trespass & Shielding (2026)
Key Facts
- Section
- Racine County Code § 20-1065(1)
- Coverage
- Unincorporated Racine County only
- Standard
- No glare beyond the property line
- Enforcement
- Zoning administrator, sheriff's department
- Penalty
- $20–$1,000 forfeiture per day
Summary
Racine County zoning bars any exterior lighting on a lot from shining glare across the property line: fixtures illuminating buildings, signs, or parking lots must be shielded so direct radiation stays off neighboring parcels and the public right-of-way.
Any lighting source on any use, lot or parcel which is for the purpose of illuminating any structure exterior, sign, parking lot or outdoor area shall be established in a manner which satisfies the following conditions:
(1) Such lighting shall be arranged, oriented or shielded in such a manner that direct radiation or glare from such source does not penetrate adjacent or nearby parcels or the public right-of-way.
(2) The source of such illumination shall be arranged, oriented or shielded in a manner which will not endanger the safety of pedestrian or vehicular traffic. (Ord. No. 86-86, § 7.095, 8-26-86)
Official source re-checked September 7, 2026: no newer edition of the code had been published (publisher’s edition: Code of Ordinances: Supplement 33).
Full Breakdown
The rule sits in the county zoning code's performance standards, which apply to every use, structure, and lot within the unincorporated area of Racine County: the incorporated City of Racine and the county's villages run their own lighting rules. Under Sec. 20-1065, any exterior fixture lighting a building, sign, parking lot, or outdoor area must be arranged, oriented, or shielded so its direct radiation or glare stops at the property line and never crosses onto an adjacent parcel or the public right-of-way; the same section separately bars lighting that could blind drivers or pedestrians. The zoning administrator and sheriff's department enforce the standard under Sec. 20-12.
Violations & Fines
Violating the lighting rule is a zoning-code offense: a forfeiture of $20 to $1,000 plus court costs under Sec. 20-12, with each day of non-compliance counted as a separate violation.
Frequently Asked Questions
Does this rule apply inside the City of Racine?
What counts as light trespass under the ordinance?
Sources & Official References
Other rules in Racine County
Compare Racine County to another location·View the Wisconsin outdoor lighting overview
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