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Outdoor Lighting

Outdoor Lighting in Temple Terrace, FL: What Residents Actually Need to Know

By CityRuleLookup Editorial Team

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

Light Trespass

Temple Terrace treats light trespass exceeding 0.5 footcandles at a residential property line as a code violation. Neighbors can file complaints with Code Compliance, and repeat violations escalate to special magistrate hearings with daily fines.

Key details: Threshold: 0.5 fc at line. Enforcement: Code Compliance meter. Cure Period: 30 days. Max Daily Fine: $250 per FL §162.

Persistent light trespass $150 per day through code-compliance magistrate. Liens may be recorded against the property for unpaid fines and foreclosed after 3 months under FL §162.09.

Dark Sky Rules

Temple Terrace requires exterior lighting to be shielded and downward-directed to minimize glare on adjacent properties. Maximum illumination at residential property lines is 0.5 footcandles, and commercial parking-lot lighting must be turned down or off after business hours.

Key details: Cutoff: Full cutoff required. Property Line: 0.5 footcandles max. Floodlights: Prohibited upward. Canopies: Recessed lamps.

Unshielded or upward-directed lighting complaint-driven enforcement with 30-day cure period, then $100 per day fines. Commercial over-illumination may require photometric study at owner cost.

The Bottom Line

Temple Terrace'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 Temple Terrace is broadly strict or permissive.

Keep in mind that Temple Terrace 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.