Wausau, WI Outdoor Lighting: Light Trespass & Shielding (2026)
Key Facts
- Fixture visibility
- Not visible from residential lot
- Property-line cap
- 0.50 foot-candles above ambient
- Residential lumens/acre
- 10,000 max
- Nonresidential lumens/acre
- 50,000 max
- On-site average, residential
- 1.0 foot-candle max
- On-site average, nonresidential
- 3.0 foot-candles max
Summary
Wausau bars outdoor light fixtures from being aimed so the light element is visible from any residential property, and caps illumination at the property line to 0.50 foot-candles above ambient conditions. On-site averages are limited to 1.0 foot-candle in residential districts and 3.0 in nonresidential districts under Wausau Municipal Code § 23.06.20(5).
(a)In no instance shall an exterior lighting fixture be oriented so that the lighting element (or a clear shield) is visible from a property located within a residential zoning district. The use of shielded luminaries and careful fixture placement is encouraged so as to facilitate compliance with this requirement. ... (c)Intensity of illumination.1.In no instance shall the amount of illumination attributable to exterior lighting, as measured at the property line, exceed 0.50 foot-candles above ambient lighting conditions on a cloudless night; and shall not exceed a total of 10,000 lumens per acre for residential land uses and 50,000 lumens per acre for all other land uses.2.The maximum average on-site lighting in nonresidential zoning districts shall be 3.0 foot-candles.3.The maximum average on-site lighting in residential zoning districts shall be 1.0 foot-candles. ... 5.Reflected glare onto nearby buildings, streets, or pedestrian areas is prohibited.
Official source re-checked September 7, 2026: no newer edition of the code had been published (publisher’s edition: Code of Ordinances: Supplement 12 Update 2).
Full Breakdown
20(5)(a): no exterior lighting fixture may be oriented so that the lighting element, or even a clear shield around it, is visible from a property inside a residential zoning district, and the code encourages shielded luminaries and careful fixture placement to meet that standard. Subsection (c) backs that placement rule with hard numbers. 50 foot-candles above ambient nighttime conditions, and total output is capped at 10,000 lumens per acre for residential land uses and 50,000 lumens per acre for every other land use. 0 foot-candles once the business closes and use fully recessed under-canopy fixtures.
The same subsection bans reflected glare onto nearby buildings, streets, or pedestrian areas outright. Because these are numeric, measurable standards rather than a design preference, the Zoning Administrator can verify a complaint with a foot-candle meter at the shared property line rather than relying on a visual judgment call.
Violations & Fines
A fixture aimed so its light element is visible from a residential property, or exterior lighting that exceeds 0.50 foot-candles above ambient conditions at the property line, violates section 23.06.20(5). It is enforced through the general Title 23 penalty in section 1.01.110, a forfeiture of not less than $10.00 nor more than $200.00 per offense, with each day of a continuing violation a separate offense.
Frequently Asked Questions
How bright can my neighbor's outdoor lighting be at my property line?
Can I be cited if I can see the bulb of my neighbor's light from my yard?
Are gas station and car lot lights held to the same limit?
Sources & Official References
Other rules in Wausau
Compare Wausau to another location·View the Wisconsin outdoor lighting overview
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