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

Some Restrictions

Compiled from the official code textEditor Martyn O'NeillLast verified September 2026

Key Facts

Governing section: Zoning Ordinance § 13.05.C
Residential boundary limit: 0.1 foot-candle
Nonresidential boundary limit: 1.0 foot-candle
Pole height cap: 25 ft (30 ft in IB/PV)
Curfew: off/dimmed 11 p.m. to sunrise
Fixture type: full cut-off, downward directed

Summary

Troy caps outdoor light spilling onto neighboring land: under Zoning Ordinance Section 13.05.C.2, light can't exceed one-tenth of a foot-candle at a residential property line and one foot-candle at a nonresidential line. Fixtures must be full cut-off, and site plans need a photometric grid showing light levels ten feet past the property line.

2. Lighting Levels. a. The intensity of light at the base of a light fixture pole shall not exceed twenty (20) foot-candles during business hours and ten (10) foot-candles after business hours. b. Light shall not exceed one-tenth (0.1) foot-candle along any boundary adjacent to residentially zoned or used property, and one (1) foot-candle along all nonresidential property boundaries. c. Light levels shall be measured on the horizontal plane at grade level within the site, and on the vertical plane of any property line boundary or street right-of-way line at a height of five (5) feet above grade level.

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Full Breakdown

05 of the Zoning Ordinance governs every use with exterior lighting and requires a lighting plan on all site plan submissions, including fixture locations, specifications, and a photometric grid overlaid on the site plan showing light intensity in foot-candles across the site and ten feet beyond the parcel lines (the Zoning Administrator may waive this for lots with 20 or fewer parking spaces or sites not adjacent to residential zoning). 1) foot-candle along any boundary next to residentially zoned or used property and one (1) foot-candle along nonresidential boundaries, measured at grade on the horizontal plane and five feet above grade on the vertical plane of the property line.

Pole height is capped at 25 feet (30 feet in the IB or PV districts if fixtures sit at least 200 feet from a residential district). m. 0 foot-candle boundary limits and a 20-foot height cap.

Violations & Fines

The Zoning Administrator can require a revised lighting plan or reject a site plan that exceeds the 0.1 foot-candle residential limit, the height caps, or the shielding requirements. Changing a fixture or lamp type after a permit issues requires administrative approval under Section 13.05.I. Unpermitted or noncompliant lighting is a Municipal Civil Infraction under Section 3.08 and Chapter 100 of Troy's Code of Ordinances.

Frequently Asked Questions

How bright can a Troy parking lot light be at my property line?

If your property is zoned or used residentially, light spilling from a neighboring site cannot exceed one-tenth (0.1) foot-candle at your boundary under Section 13.05.C.2.b. Nonresidential boundaries get a higher one (1) foot-candle limit, and both are measured five feet above grade at the property line.

Does Troy require outdoor lights to shut off at night?

Yes. Section 13.05.C.4 requires outdoor lighting fixtures on private property to be turned off or reduced in intensity between 11:00 p.m. and sunrise, with exceptions where extra light is needed for security or safety, or where a permitted business operates later than 11:00 p.m.

What height can a parking lot light pole be in Troy?

Twenty-five feet is the standard maximum under Section 13.05.C.3. A 30-foot pole is allowed only in the IB or PV districts, and only where the fixture sits at least 200 feet from any residential district. Building-mounted fixtures are capped lower, at 20 feet, under Section 13.05.D.1.

Sources & Official References

[1]City of Troy Zoning Ordinance, Article 13 (effective July 23, 2026)

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