# Dark Sky Law: Michigan

Michigan law lets the DNR designate state parks and recreation areas as dark sky preserves and impose outdoor lighting restrictions inside them to protect stargazing; a 2016 amendment added three more preserves. The statute is limited to DNR-managed land and, notably, bars new dark sky preserve designations in the Upper Peninsula, a restriction advocates have pushed to repeal.

**Status:** statewide-law (checked 2026-09-23)
Michigan law lets the DNR designate state parks and recreation areas as dark sky preserves and impose outdoor lighting restrictions inside them to protect stargazing; a 2016 amendment added three more preserves. The statute is limited to DNR-managed land and, notably, bars new dark sky preserve designations in the Upper Peninsula, a restriction advocates have pushed to repeal.

## Statutes
- [Dark Sky Preserve](https://law.justia.com/codes/michigan/2023/chapter-324/statute-act-451-of-1994/article-iii/division-451-1994-iii-4/division-451-1994-iii-4-2/division-451-1994-iii-4-2-parks/division-451-1994-iii-4-2-parks-751/section-324-75106/), Mich. Comp. Laws §§ 324.75101 to 324.75106 (Part 751, NREPA) (2015)

## Sources
- https://www.legislature.mi.gov/documents/mcl/pdf/mcl-451-1994-III-4-2-PARKS-751.pdf
- https://www.wgvunews.org/news/2016-02-18/new-michigan-law-designates-3-more-dark-sky-preserves
- https://www.uppermichiganssource.com/2025/02/26/advocates-call-end-dark-sky-preserve-prohibition-up/

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Canonical: https://darkskiesdirectory.com/laws/MI