Page 1 of 12
Exhibit Index on Page 2

FORM 11-K

SECURITIES AND EXCHANGE COMMISSION

WASHINGTON, D.C. 20549


Annual Report Pursuant to Section 15(d) of the Securities Exchange Act
of 1934




(Mark One)

  [X]   ANNUAL REPORT PURSUANT TO SECTION 15(d) OF THE SECURITIES
        EXCHANGE ACT OF 1934 [FEE REQUIRED].
             For the fiscal year ended:  December 31, 1996

  OR

  [     ] TRANSITION REPORT PURSUANT TO SECTION 15(d) OF THE SECURITIES EXCHANGE
        ACT OF 1934 [NO FEE REQUIRED].
             For the transition period from       to



Commission file number     1- 3208

  A.    Full title of the plan and the address of the plan, if
        different from that of the issuer named below:

        Lithonia Lighting Profit Sharing and Retirement
        Plan for Salaried Employees

  B.    Name of issuer of the securities held pursuant to the plan and
        the address of the principal executive office:

        National Service Industries, Inc.
        1420 Peachtree Street, NE
        Atlanta, Georgia 30309



Page 2

REQUIRED INFORMATION

The following documents are filed as a part of this report:

1.   Financial Statements


     Plan  financial  statements  prepared  in  accordance  with  the  financial
     reporting requirements of ERISA include the following:

     Report of Independent Public Accountants

     Statements of Net Assets  Available  for Benefits  as of December 31, 1996
     and 1995

     Statement  of Changes  in Net  Assets  Available  for  Benefits,  with Fund
     Information, for the Year Ended December 31, 1996

     Notes to  Financial  Statements  and  Schedule


2.   Exhibits
                                                             Sequentially
                                                               Numbered
     The following exhibit is filed with this report:            Page

     23     Consent of Arthur Andersen LLP                        12



SIGNATURES

Pursuant  to the  requirements  of the  Securities  Exchange  Act of  1934,  the
trustees (or other persons who administer  the employee  benefit plan) have duly
caused this annual report to be signed on its behalf by the undersigned hereunto
duly authorized.

                              Lithonia Lighting Profit Sharing
                              and Retirement Plan for Salaried Employees


Date: June 18, 1997           By:   National Service Industries, Inc.
                                    Plan Administrator

                              By:    /s/ James S. Balloun
                              Name:  James S. Balloun
                              Title: Chairman and Chief Executive Officer



Page 3






                    REPORT OF INDEPENDENT PUBLIC ACCOUNTANTS




To the Plan Administrator of
Lithonia Lighting Profit Sharing and Retirement Plan for
Salaried Employees:


We have audited the accompanying statements of net assets available for benefits
of LITHONIA  LIGHTING PROFIT SHARING AND RETIREMENT PLAN FOR SALARIED  EMPLOYEES
as of December  31, 1996 and 1995 and the  related  statement  of changes in net
assets  available  for  benefits,  with  fund  information,  for the year  ended
December 31, 1996.  These  financial  statements are the  responsibility  of the
Plan's  management.  Our  responsibility  is to  express  an  opinion  on  these
financial statements based on our audits.

We  conducted  our  audits  in  accordance  with  generally   accepted  auditing
standards.  Those standards require that we plan and perform the audit to obtain
reasonable assurance about whether the financial statements are free of material
misstatement.  An audit includes examining, on a test basis, evidence supporting
the amounts and disclosures in the financial statements.  An audit also includes
assessing the  accounting  principles  used and  significant  estimates  made by
management,  as well as evaluating the overall financial statement presentation.
We believe that our audits provide a reasonable basis for our opinion.

In our opinion,  the financial  statements  referred to above present fairly, in
all material  respects,  the net assets available for benefits of the Plan as of
December 31, 1996 and 1995 and the changes in net assets  available for benefits
for the year ended  December  31, 1996 in  conformity  with  generally  accepted
accounting principles.

Our audits  were  performed  for the  purpose of forming an opinion on the basic
financial  statements taken as a whole. The fund information in the statement of
changes in net assets  available  for benefits is  presented  for the purpose of
additional  analysis rather than to present the changes in net assets  available
for  benefits  of each fund.  The fund  information  has been  subjected  to the
auditing procedures applied in the audits of the basic financial statements and,
in our opinion,  is fairly  stated in all  material  respects in relation to the
basic financial statements taken as a whole.




Atlanta, Georgia
June 12, 1997



Page 4    


                      LITHONIA LIGHTING PROFIT SHARING AND

                     RETIREMENT PLAN FOR SALARIED EMPLOYEES


                 STATEMENTS OF NET ASSETS AVAILABLE FOR BENEFITS

                           DECEMBER 31, 1996 AND 1995








                                                            1996        1995

INVESTMENT IN NSI DC TRUST, at fair value (Note 2):
    Balanced Fund ..................................   $20,258,600   $17,706,719
    Diversified Equity Fund ........................    21,415,464    16,676,083
    Stable Value Fund ..............................    22,780,355    21,297,500
    NSI Stock Fund .................................     1,136,979       480,967
    Loan Fund ......................................     2,303,446     2,190,138
    International Fund .............................       642,374       154,648
              Total investment .....................    68,537,218    58,506,055
CONTRIBUTIONS RECEIVABLE:
    Employer .......................................       484,548       121,693
    Participant ....................................        36,774             0
              Total contributions receivable .......       521,322       121,693
NET ASSETS AVAILABLE FOR BENEFITS ..................   $69,058,540   $58,627,748







        The accompanying notes are an integral part of these statements.


Page 5


                      LITHONIA LIGHTING PROFIT SHARING AND

                     RETIREMENT PLAN FOR SALARIED EMPLOYEES

           STATEMENT OF CHANGES IN NET ASSETS AVAILABLE FOR BENEFITS,
            
                             WITH FUND INFORMATION,

                      FOR THE YEAR ENDED DECEMBER 31, 1996




                                             Diversified       Stable         NSI
                                 Balanced       Equity         Value         Stock      Loan   International
                                   Fund          Fund           Fund         Fund       Fund        Fund      Other         Total
                                                                                                

CONTRIBUTIONS:
    Employer ................ $    439,789  $    522,426  $    397,698  $    42,523  $         0  $  21,336  $484,548  $  1,908,320
    Participant .............    1,078,608     1,324,089       854,905      125,575            0     68,878    36,774     3,488,829
        Total contributions .    1,518,397     1,846,515     1,252,603      168,098            0     90,214   521,322     5,397,149

NET GAIN FROM INVESTMENT
 IN NSI DC TRUST ............    2,704,447     3,565,331     1,520,878       79,329            0     42,105         0     7,912,090

BENEFITS PAID TO PARTICIPANTS     (844,166)     (785,446)   (1,007,096)     (35,157)    (191,469)   (15,113)        0    (2,878,447)

INTRAPLAN TRANSFERS .........     (865,174)       75,739      (327,684)     442,302      304,777    370,040         0             0

NET INCREASE ................    2,513,504     4,702,139     1,438,701      654,572      113,308    487,246   521,322    10,430,792

NET ASSETS AVAILABLE FOR
BENEFITS, December 31,1995 ..   17,745,096    16,713,325    21,341,654      482,407    2,190,138    155,128         0    58,627,748
NET ASSETS AVAILABLE FOR
BENEFITS, December 31,1996 .. $ 20,258,600  $ 21,415,464  $ 22,780,355  $ 1,136,979  $ 2,303,446  $ 642,374  $521,322  $ 69,058,540



         The accompanying notes are an integral part of this statement.


 


Page 6

                      LITHONIA LIGHTING PROFIT SHARING AND

                     RETIREMENT PLAN FOR SALARIED EMPLOYEES


                          NOTES TO FINANCIAL STATEMENTS

                           DECEMBER 31, 1996 AND 1995



  1.  PLAN DESCRIPTION

      The  following  is a brief  description  of the Lithonia  Lighting  Profit
      Sharing and  Retirement  Plan for  Salaried  Employees (the "Plan") of the
      Lithonia Lighting Division of National Service Industries, Inc. of Georgia
      and the Lithonia Lighting Division of NSI Enterprises, Inc. (together, the
      "Employer"). Both  National  Service  Industries,  Inc. of Georgia and NSI
      Enterprises, Inc.  are  wholly  owned  subsidiaries  of  National  Service
      Industries, Inc.  ("NSI").  This description is provided for informational
      purposes only.  Participants  should refer to the plan  agreement for more
      complete information.

      General

      The Plan,  as amended  and  restated  effective  September  1, 1989 and as
      further amended through September 1, 1993, is a defined  contribution plan
      established under the provisions of Section 401(a) of the Internal Revenue
      Code ("IRC"). The Plan covers all nonunion,  salaried, nonhourly employees
      of the Employer who have six months of service, as defined, and who are 21
      years of age.  The  Plan is  subject  to the  provisions  of the  Employee
      Retirement Income Security Act of 1974, as amended.

      Contributions

      Contributions are made by the participants and the Employer.  Participants
      may elect to contribute between 1% and 15% of before-tax compensation,  as
      defined in the Plan,  subject to certain  limitations  under the IRC.  The
      Employer  provides a matching  contribution  in an amount  equal to 50% of
      each  participant's  contributions  up to 6% of compensation  for the plan
      year. For any plan year in which the  Employer's net profits,  as defined,
      equal or exceed  $6,000,000,  the  Employer  shall  make a  profit-sharing
      contribution  equal to 2% of the net profits  for the plan year,  less the
      aggregate matching contribution for the plan year.

      If 2% of net  profits,  plus  any  forfeitures  of  nonvested  participant
      accounts, less matching contributions,  equals or exceeds 30% of the 2% of
      net  profits,   plus  forfeitures,   then  such  30%  is  allocated  among
      participants on the basis of service credits, as defined. The remainder of
      the  profit-sharing  contribution  is allocated to  participants  who made
      elective  deferrals  during the plan year and who are employed on the last
      day of the plan year.  This  allocation is based on the relative  elective
      deferrals  up to 6% of  compensation.  If the 30% criteria is not met, the
      entire  profit-sharing  contribution  is allocated to  participants on the
      basis of service credits.

Page 7

      Vesting

      Participants  are always  fully vested in their  voluntary  contributions.
      Vesting of employer  contributions  occurs on an increasing scale, ranging
      from 10% after one year of service,  as defined, to 100% after seven years
      of  service.   Nonvested  employer  contributions  are  forfeited  upon  a
      participant's  withdrawal  from  the Plan  and are  added to the  employer
      contribution  for  allocation to remaining  participants  based on service
      credits.

      Administration

     The  responsibility  for  administration  of the Plan rests with the Plan's
     retirement committee,  which is appointed by the board of directors of NSI.
     All  administrative  expenses of the Plan were paid by the Employer  during
     the year ended December 31, 1996.

      Participants' Accounts

     Individual  accounts are maintained for each of the Plan's  participants to
     reflect the particular  participant's  contributions  and related  employer
     contributions as well as the  participant's  share of the Plan's income and
     any related administrative expenses.

     The Plan assigns units to its participants.  At December 31, 1996 and 1995,
     6,997,921  and  6,550,609  units,  respectively,   were  assigned  to  plan
     participants.  Unit  values  for each  investment  fund were as  follows at
     December 31, 1996 and 1995:

                                                     1996         1995

          Balanced Fund ....................     $     26.40  $     22.95
           Diversified Equity Fund .........           12.05        10.57
          Stable Value Fund ................           11.31        10.59
           NSI Stock Fund ..................           14.52        12.39
           International Fund ..............            5.01         4.59

      Investment in Master Trust

     Under a trust agreement dated September 1, 1993, as amended,  Wachovia Bank
     of Georgia,  N.A.  was  appointed  trustee of the NSI Defined  Contribution
     Plans Master Trust (the "NSI DC Trust").

     The Plan's  assets are  commingled  in the NSI DC Trust  together  with the
     assets of certain defined  contribution  plans of other NSI divisions.  The
     investments  of the NSI DC Trust  are  subject  to  certain  administrative
     guidelines  and  limitations  as to type and  amount  of  securities  held.
     Certain  fund  assets are  allocated  to  selected  independent  investment
     managers to invest under these general guidelines.

      Investment Options

     The  separate  investment  options  made  available  under  the Plan may be
     changed,  eliminated,  or  modified  from  time to  time by the  investment

Page 8

     committee of the NSI DC Trust. Participants make their investment elections
     in 1% increments, with changes allowed on a daily basis.

     The separate investment options offered by the Plan are as follows:

     o    Diversified  Equity  Fund.  This  fund  is a  diversified  stock  fund
          designed to invest in a broad range of common stocks providing capital
          growth.

     o    Stable Value Fund.  This is a fixed income fund  designed to provide a
          steady  level of current  income  while  focusing on  preservation  of
          principal.

     o    Balanced Fund. This fund is invested in a changing mix of high-quality
          stocks and bonds.  The fund is designed to provide  capital growth and
          current income while limiting the risk of principal loss.

     o    NSI Stock Fund. This fund is invested in NSI common stock, although it
          may hold other short-term investments from time to time. A participant
          may not direct more than 50% of his/her account balance to be invested
          in this fund.

     o    International  Fund.  This fund is  invested  in the stock of non-U.S.
          companies and is designed to provide long-term growth.

      Loans to Participants

      The Plan  permits  loans to  participants  up to the  lesser of 50% of the
      participant's  vested account balance or $50,000.  A participant has up to
      five years to repay the principal and interest, unless the loan is for the
      purchase of a primary  residence,  in which case the repayment period will
      be established at the time the loan is approved.  Loan processing fees are
      charged directly to the participant's account.  Interest rates on loans to
      participants  are  based  on  market  rates,  as  determined  by the  plan
      administrator.

      Benefits

     A participant  is entitled to receive the  distribution  of his/her  vested
     account  balance upon death,  disability,  or  retirement  (age 65).  These
     benefits are payable in a lump-sum  amount.  A participant  who  terminated
     employment  with the Employer  for reasons  other than these is entitled to
     receive  his/her  contributions  in a lump sum as soon as  administratively
     feasible.

     Benefits  are payable in cash,  except that any portion of a  participant's
     account  balance which is invested in the NSI Stock Fund is  distributed in
     the form of shares of NSI common  stock,  with  fractional  shares  paid in
     cash.

     Hardship  withdrawals  may be made  upon  proven  financial  hardship  of a
     participant, as defined in the plan agreement and as approved by the Plan's
     retirement committee.

      Plan Termination

      Although  the  Employer  intends  for the Plan to be  permanent,  the Plan
      provides that the Employer has the right to discontinue  contributions  or

Page 9

      to terminate the Plan at any time. In the event of plan  termination,  the
      participants  are  vested in the  amounts  allocated  to their  respective
      accounts;  however,  the accounts shall continue to be held by the trustee
      until  such  time  as  the  participants  terminate  their  employment  or
      otherwise  become entitled to such vested benefits under the provisions of
      the Plan.


  2.  SUMMARY OF SIGNIFICANT ACCOUNTING POLICIES

      Basis of Accounting

      The accounts of the Plan are  maintained  by the trustee on the cash basis
      of accounting.  The accompanying  financial  statements have been prepared
      using the  accrual  method of  accounting  by  application  of  memorandum
      entries.  The  preparation  of financial  statements  in  conformity  with
      generally accepted accounting principles requires the Plan's management to
      use  estimates  and  assumptions  that affect the  accompanying  financial
      statements  and  disclosures.  Actual  results  could  differ  from  these
      estimates.

      Investment Valuation

      Investments  of the NSI DC Trust,  except  for the  guaranteed  investment
      contracts ("GICs"),  are stated at fair value as determined by the trustee
      from quoted market prices.  Securities  traded on a national  exchange are
      valued at the last  reported  sales price on the last  business day of the
      plan year;  investments traded in the  over-the-counter  market and listed
      securities for which no sale was reported on the last day of the plan year
      are valued at the last reported bid price.

      GICs  included  in the NSI DC Trust are fully  benefit-responsive  and are
      therefore  carried at contract  value (cost plus accrued  interest) in the
      accompanying financial statements in accordance with Statement of Position
      94-4.  At December 31, 1996 and 1995,  contract  value  approximates  fair
      value. At December 31, 1996, the weighted average crediting  interest rate
      was 6.74%.  For the year ended  December 31, 1996, the annual yield on the
      GICs held by the NSI DC Trust was 6.9%.  For  certain  of the GICs held by
      the NSI DC Trust,  crediting  interest  rates may be  changed  if  certain
      events occur, such as early retirements,  plant closings,  etc., but in no
      case are  adjusted to a rate less than 0%. GICs are subject to credit risk
      based  on the  ability  of the  insurance  company  to  meet  interest  or
      principal payments, or both, as they become due.


Page 10

  3.  NSI DC TRUST

      Investment Income

     Investment  income of the NSI DC Trust for the year ended December 31, 1996
     is summarized as follows:

     Dividends on common stock ..................................   $   360,166
     Interest income ............................................     4,320,463
     Net appreciation in fair value of common stock .............     1,031,354
     Net income from mutual fund ................................    10,129,284
     Net income from common/collective trust ....................     7,315,993
     Net income from pooled separate account ....................       160,826
             Total investment income ............................   $23,318,086

     The  investment  income of the NSI DC Trust for the year ended December 31,
     1996 is allocated among participating plans as follows:

     Lithonia Lighting Profit Sharing and Retirement
      Plan for Salaried Employees ...............................   $ 7,912,090
     All other NSI plans ........................................    15,405,996
                   Total ........................................   $23,318,086

    
      Net Assets

      The net assets of the NSI DC Trust are as follows at December 31, 1996 and
1995:

                                                        1996               1995

Mutual fund ..............................     $  63,411,122      $  47,636,487
Common/collective trust ..................        57,558,795         48,146,903
Guaranteed investment contracts ..........        55,187,898         55,129,605
Loans receivable from participants .......         6,828,607          6,104,302
NSI common stock .........................        11,279,289          7,637,554
Money market fund ........................         3,704,985          1,377,443
Pooled separate account ..................         2,723,094            871,467
                                                 200,693,790        166,903,761
Cash .....................................            13,342            127,031
                                                 200,707,132        167,030,792
Accrued investment income ................           100,534             76,779
Adjustments for pending trades ...........          (223,542)          (211,964)
Other ....................................           (54,239)            49,961
Net assets ...............................     $ 200,529,885      $ 166,945,568

Page 11


      The  allocation  of the net  assets  of the NSI DC Trust to  participating
plans is based on  participant  units and is as follows as of December  31, 1996
and 1995:

                                                1996                 1995
                                          Amount    Percent    Amount    Percent
Lithonia Lighting Profit Sharing and
Retirement Plan for Salaried Employees  $ 68,537,218   34.2% $ 58,506,055  35.0%
All other plans .....................    131,992,667   65.8   108,439,513  65.0
              Total .................   $200,529,885  100.0% $166,945,568 100.0%


      Investment in NSI Common Stock

     As  of  December   31,  1996  and  1995,   approximately   5.6%  and  4.6%,
     respectively,  of the NSI DC Trust's net assets were invested in the common
     stock of NSI, a party in interest to the Plan.


  4.  TAX STATUS

     The Plan has  received a favorable  determination  letter from the Internal
     Revenue  Service  dated June 5, 1996  stating that the Plan was designed in
     accordance with plan design requirements as of that date. The Plan has been
     amended  since  receiving  the  determination  letter.  However,  the  plan
     administrator  believes  that the Plan is  currently  designed and is being
     operated  in  compliance  with  the  applicable  requirements  of the  IRC.
     Therefore,  the plan administrator believes that the Plan was qualified and
     that the related trust was tax-exempt as of December 31, 1996 and 1995.