Bonita Springs, FL Outdoor Lighting: Dark Sky Rules (2026)

Section 10-102 states its purpose as curtailing and reversing the degradation of the nighttime visual environment by minimizing light pollution, glare and light trespass while conserving energy and maintaining nighttime safety, security and productivity. It applies to all luminaires on single and two family residential developments and accessory structures, whether or not a certificate of occupancy or certificate of compliance is required. Where the code is silent, the standards of the Illuminating Engineering Society of North America apply.

The standards run between 10:00 p.m. and 6:00 a.m. Lighting in existence as of February 1, 2008 must have bulbs fully recessed within the fixture that do not emit light above the horizontal plane, and the cone of emitted light cannot project onto a neighboring property. New lighting installed after that date meets those tests plus a maximum lamp wattage of 100 watts for incandescent bulbs and 26 watts for compact fluorescent bulbs, and solar lights are encouraged. Light projected onto roadways that causes glare, annoyance, discomfort or loss of visual ability is not permitted, and motion-detector luminaires cannot remain on for more than five minutes or be triggered by movement outside the property boundaries.

Mounting is limited as well. A pole cannot exceed the height of the lowest eave of the dwelling or 15 feet, whichever is lower, and a wall-mounted luminaire cannot exceed the height of the eave or 25 feet, whichever is lower. New poles must sit on the interior of the site at least 15 feet from the property boundary. A streetlight on private residential property must be shielded so no light goes above the fixture, and customer-owned lighting must be shielded the same way.

The exemptions are fossil-fuel fixtures, candles, low wattage decorative fixtures, shielded and directional dock lights, and flagpole luminaires on poles not exceeding 20 feet. Ordinance No. 01-06 on sea turtle conservation controls in a conflict.

Permit applications involving outdoor lighting must include plans, fixture descriptions and cut-off data, and a city-approved lighting plan is required before a building permit is issued.