Waukesha County's town zoning code limits light spillover for parking/commercial lighting: no more than 0.2 footcandles at residential property lines and 0.5 footcandles at other property lines, using cut-off fixtures. There is no residential-to-residential light-trespass rule; that is handled by municipal nuisance law.
For off-street parking and commercial site lighting, Sec. 3.13(5) of the County Basic Zoning Ordinance sets measurable spillover limits: light levels shall not exceed 0.2 footcandles at residential property lines and 0.5 footcandles at all other property lines. Fixtures must be cut-off type or decorative fixtures that do not direct light at abutting properties, and poles are capped at 25 ft. These caps give a concrete standard for glare complaints against businesses and parking lots. The code does not set a footcandle limit for one home's lights shining onto a neighbor; residential light trespass is generally addressed as a nuisance under municipal ordinances or common law. Cities and villages may impose stricter lighting rules.
Commercial or parking lighting exceeding the footcandle limits can be cited under zoning site-plan enforcement; residential glare is typically pursued as a municipal nuisance complaint.
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