Approach to street lighting

Our street lighting policy guides how we plan and maintain street lights.

About our street lighting policy

The City of Minneapolis has a street lighting policy. This policy supports our efforts around:

  • Making our communities more livable
  • Urban development

Why we have the policy

The policy helps to make sure that all areas of Minneapolis receive consistent treatment. It guides how we install and maintain the street lighting system.

The policy gives clear guidance to:

  • Residents
  • The Public Works department
  • Developers
  • Elected officials

Read the street lighting policy

Street lighting plan map

You can see a map of our plans to replace the City street lights on metal poles. We also replace old lights when we can.
View street lighting plan map

What the policy covers

The policy addresses many issues. It is meant to:

  • Clarify internal practices
  • Equalize independent initiatives
  • Add lights to areas with limited lighting
  • Improve lighting in pedestrian areas
  • Improve safety concerns
  • Simplify process for installing lights
  • Make technical efforts efficient and sustainable
  • Funding

Public Works updated the City of Minneapolis street light policy. City Council adopted it in 2022.

Goals of the policy

Goals of the street lighting policy

The policy's goal is to:

Maximize the street lighting system's:

  • Quality
  • Sustainability
  • Visibility

 And add to the comfort and safety of:

  • Pedestrians
  • Bicyclists
  • Transit users
  • Motorists

More street lighting policy goals

  • Create a consistent and unified lighting system throughout the city.
    • Base this system on place-type characteristics.
  • Provide pole and fixture options that are visually pleasing and high quality.
  • Give clear guidance on procedures and how we install and maintain street lights.
  • Create a system that is cost-efficient, easy to operate and easy to maintain.
  • Address costs to the City’s capital, maintenance, and operations budgets.

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Contact us

Public Works

Phone

311 or 612-673-3000

Address

City Hall
350 Fifth St. S., Room 203
Minneapolis, MN 55415

Office hours

Monday - Friday

8:00 a.m. - 4:30 p.m.