By JoseMaria Donoso
City of Madison

Although the daylight is lengthening, it is still quite dark in the late afternoon hours. The City of Madison ordinances enforces a minimum illumination on public hallways, stairways, main entrance doors and on parking lot surfaces. Public halls and stairways in duplex or multiple dwellings shall be adequately lit by natural or electric light at all times, so as to provide at least two and one-half footcandles of light at the stair tread or floor level. Halls and stairways in structures containing no more than three dwelling units must have conveniently located switches which may be turned on when needed.

In all residential buildings where the common main entrance doors open directly to the outside, a minimum of two and one-half footcandles of illumination at the locks and latches are required.

Parking lots for more than three cars shall be lit to provide at least 0.25 footcandles on any surface with an average illumination level of at least 0.75 footcandles. A parking lot includes all areas of a property where vehicles are meant to be parked.

All outdoor light fixtures shall be designed and installed to eliminate spill light or light trespass and glare into adjacent properties. All fixtures greater than 70 incandescent watts shall be full cutoff, or shall be shielded. The light source shall not be of such intensity so as to cause discomfort or annoyance.

If you have any questions or if you see issues with the lights in your building, feel free to contact the Building Inspection Division at 266-4551 or you can visit our website at cityofmadison.com/dpced/bi/.