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Outdoor Lighting

How Sarasota Handles Outdoor Lighting: A Practical Guide

By CityRuleLookup Editorial Team

Sarasota maintains 128 local ordinances across all categories, and 2 of those deal specifically with outdoor lighting. Here is a breakdown of what the city actually requires, what is prohibited, and where Sarasota falls on the strict-to-permissive spectrum compared to other cities.

Light Trespass & Shielding

Sarasota's zoning code requires security and site-lighting fixtures to be full cut-off and aimed downward so light stays on-site.

Key details: Fixture type required: full cut-off only. Light source: concealed in opaque housing. Mounting direction: cone aimed toward ground. Security lighting max: 10.0 footcandles (storage areas).

Fixtures that aren't full cut-off, or that spill glare toward adjacent property, fail site-plan review and must be replaced or re-aimed before occupancy.

Dark Sky Rules

City of Sarasota requires full cut-off, fully shielded fixtures on new nonresidential and multifamily site lighting, capping pole height at 30 feet in parking lots and 15 feet in pedestrian areas, so light stays on-site instead of spilling onto neighbors.

Key details: Fixture type: Full cut-off, fully shielded. Parking lot pole height: 30 ft max. Pedestrian area pole height: 15 ft max. Bollard height: 42 in. max. Applies to: New/expanded nonresidential & multifamily sites.

Unshielded or non-cut-off fixtures, poles exceeding the height caps, or illumination levels above the code's maximum footcandle table are violations the director of development services can require the owner to correct before occupancy.

The Bottom Line

Sarasota'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 Sarasota is broadly strict or permissive.

Keep in mind that Sarasota 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.