2 county-level rules, plus city-specific rules for 2 cities in Lee County, Florida.
Verified from official government sources
On unincorporated Gulf-facing beaches, Lee County bans artificial light directly or indirectly visible from the beach during sea-turtle nesting season, defined as 9:00 p.m. to 7:00 a.m. from May 1 through October 31, to protect nesting turtles and hatchlings.
Lee County Code Sec. 14-72, 14-75
Nesting season means from 9:00 p.m. until 7:00 a.m. during the period of May 1 through October 31 of each year... Existing development must ensure that sea turtle nesting habitat is not directly or indirectly illuminated by [artificial light and that light from existing] development is not directly or indirectly visible from the beach, dune, or other sea turtle nesting habitat during the nestin...
Lee County treats light escaping toward the beach as a violation of its sea-turtle ordinance. A rebuttable presumption of violation exists when artificial light casts a shadow of an opaque object in nesting habitat, so beachfront lights must be shielded and directed downward.
Lee County Code Sec. 14-73(a)(2)a
A rebuttable presumption that there is a violation of this division exists when: A shadow is created or cast by artificial lighting directly or indirectly illuminating an opaque object in sea turtle nesting habitat during the nesting season.
2 cities in Lee County have their own outdoor lighting rules. Each link goes to that city's dedicated page with code citations.
See every category we cover for Lee County — parking, noise, fences, fires, animals, pools, and more.
Lee County Ordinance Hub →