Doral, FL Outdoor Lighting: Dark Sky Rules (2026)

Doral's outdoor lighting regulations are established in the city's Land Development Code as part of site plan review requirements. New commercial, multi-family, and industrial development must submit photometric plans demonstrating compliance with lighting standards as part of the site plan review process. Light fixtures must be fully shielded (full-cutoff) type that direct light downward and prevent upward light emissions. Maximum light levels at property lines abutting residential uses are typically limited to 0.5 foot-candles to minimize light trespass. Parking lot lighting must provide adequate illumination for safety while using full-cutoff fixtures. Decorative and accent lighting must not create glare visible from adjacent properties or public roadways. While Doral does not have a formal dark sky ordinance modeled on the International Dark-Sky Association standards, the city's lighting code incorporates key dark sky principles including fixture shielding, appropriate color temperature, and light trespass limits. Residential exterior lighting is generally not regulated for existing single-family homes unless it creates a documented nuisance to neighbors. New residential construction must comply with Florida Building Code energy efficiency requirements for outdoor lighting, which encourage LED fixtures and timer or motion-sensor controls. HOA communities frequently impose their own architectural lighting standards. The FWC sea turtle lighting regulations (Florida Administrative Code 62B-55) do not apply to Doral as it is approximately 10 miles inland from nesting beaches.