Daytona Beach, FL Outdoor Lighting: Dark Sky Rules (2026)
Key Facts
- Governing section
- LDC § 6.9.F, Exterior Lighting
- Fixture type
- Full cut-off, downward-directed required
- Max height (general)
- 40 feet above grade
- Max height near residential
- 25 feet above grade
- Residential lot-line cap
- 0.5 foot-candles
- Industrial lot-line cap
- 3.0 foot-candles
Summary
Daytona Beach requires full cut-off, downward-directed fixtures for almost all exterior lighting under Land Development Code Section 6.9.F.2, caps pole and wall-mounted light height at 40 feet (25 feet near residential districts), and limits illumination at the property line to as little as 0.5 foot-candles next to residential land.
2.Shielding. Except for single-family detached and duplex dwellings, all exterior luminaries, including security lighting, shall be full cut-off fixtures and directed downward, consistent with Figure 6.9.F.2: Full cut-off fixtures. In no case shall lighting be directed above a horizontal plane through the lighting fixture.3.Maximum Height. Except for athletic fields or performance areas, the height of outdoor lighting, whether mounted on poles, walls, or by other means, shall be no greater than 40 feet above grade, or 25 feet above grade for properties in, or adjacent to, residential districts.4.Maximum Illumination Levels.a.All outdoor lighting and indoor lighting visible from outside shall be designed and located so that the maximum illumination measured in foot-candles at ground level at a lot line shall not exceed the standards in Table 6.9.F.4 Maximum Illumination Levels, and Figure 6.9.F.4, Maximum Illumination Levels.
Official source re-checked September 7, 2026: no newer edition of the code had been published (publisher’s edition: Code of Ordinances: Supplement 78 | Land Development Code: Supplement 36).
Full Breakdown
F, of the Land Development Code's Exterior Lighting standards, requires that except for single-family detached and duplex dwellings, all exterior luminaries, including security lighting, be full cut-off fixtures directed downward, and prohibits directing any light above a horizontal plane through the fixture. Height is separately capped: outdoor lighting mounted on poles, walls, or by other means cannot exceed 40 feet above grade, dropping to 25 feet above grade for properties in or adjacent to residential districts, with an exception for athletic fields and performance areas.
0 foot-candles for industrial uses. Canopy lighting, such as at a gas station, has its own shielding rule requiring the light source to be recessed or shielded so it isn't visible from off the site, using either a flat lens recessed into the canopy ceiling or a surface-mounted fixture that produces a full cutoff or fully-shielded distribution.
Violations & Fines
Exterior lighting that isn't full cut-off and downward-directed, that exceeds the 40-foot (or 25-foot near residential) height cap, or that pushes illumination at the property line above the foot-candle limits in Table 6.9.F.4 is a Land Development Code violation enforceable under Article 10, which can require fixtures to be replaced, re-aimed, or shielded to bring the site into compliance.
Frequently Asked Questions
Does Daytona Beach require dark-sky-friendly lighting fixtures?
How tall can a parking lot light pole be?
How much light can spill onto a neighboring residential lot?
Are single-family homes exempt from the shielding requirement?
Sources & Official References
Other rules in Daytona Beach
Florida rules heatmap·Compare Daytona Beach to another location·View the Florida outdoor lighting overview
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