Outdoor Lighting in Doral, FL

If you live in Doral or are thinking about moving there, outdoor lighting are one of those things you probably won't think about until they affect you directly. Doral has 2 specific rules on the books covering different aspects of outdoor lighting, and some of them might surprise you.

Billboard Lighting

Doral limits illuminated off-premises billboards to no more than one foot-candle of light measured four feet from the sign under Land Development Code Section 80-307(2). Flashing, rotating, intermittent, moving or strobe lighting is banned outright, and illumination cannot shine onto adjoining property or interfere with a driver's view of traffic signals.

Key details: Max illumination: 1 foot-candle at 4 feet. Flashing/rotating/strobe lighting: Prohibited. Max display area per face: 672 sq ft. Max height: 50 feet. Governing section: Doral Code § 80-307(2).

A billboard that measures above one foot-candle of illumination at four feet from the sign, or that uses flashing, rotating or strobe lighting, violates Section 80-307(2) and is not eligible for a building permit or continued operation. The building official can act to rescind an existing sign permit and require removal of the structure under Section 80-307(7), and the city's code compliance process under Section 80-74 applies to any billboard maintained in violation of the chapter's illumination standards.

Light Trespass & Shielding

Doral's land development code bars glare onto abutting residential property from any street, parking, or walkway lighting installed as part of a development. Sec. 74-466 sets a flat no-glare standard reviewed at site plan approval, backed by a required photometric study under Sec. 74-467 and pre-final-plat power agreements under Sec. 74-468.

Key details: Governing rule: No glare onto abutting residential from site lighting. Applies to: Street, parking and walk lighting in developments. Design requirement: Photometric study must factor in planned foliage. Pre-plat requirement: Power agreements finalized before final plat approval. Default penalty: Up to $500 fine or 60 days jail (Sec. 1-14).

No violation-specific fine appears in Division 3, so noncompliance falls under the Code's general penalty, Sec. 1-14: up to a $500.00 fine, up to 60 days imprisonment, or both, with each continuing day of glare treated as a separate offense. The Planning and Zoning Department can also condition or withhold site plan and plat approval until the photometric study in Sec. 74-467 demonstrates the abutting-residential no-glare standard of Sec. 74-466 is met.

The Bottom Line

Doral's outdoor lighting rules are a mixed bag. Some areas are strict, others are relaxed, and the details matter. The best approach is to check the specific rule that applies to your situation rather than assuming Doral is broadly strict or permissive.

Keep in mind that Doral can amend these rules at any council meeting. For the most current version of any rule mentioned here, check the specific ordinance page, where we track updates as they happen.