Franklin County, FL Outdoor Lighting: Dark Sky Rules (2026)

Franklin County Code §§ 5-61 through 5-66 impose mandatory beachfront lighting standards seaward of the coastal construction control line (CCCL) to stop artificial light from disorienting nesting and hatchling sea turtles during the May 1 through October 31 nesting season. For new coastal construction, § 5-63 requires that no light fixture's point source or reflective surface be directly visible from the beach, that areas seaward of the frontal dune not be directly, indirectly or cumulatively illuminated, and that any fixture within line-of-sight of the beach be a fully shielded downlight, recessed fixture, or long-wavelength (560+ nanometer, red or amber) bulb mounted as low as possible.

Floodlights, uplights and spotlights visible from the beach are flatly prohibited, no lighting is allowed on dune walkovers, parking-area lighting within sight of the beach is capped at 48 inches high and must be shielded and downward-facing, and windows and glass doors facing the beach must carry window tint at 15 percent or less light transmittance. High-intensity applications such as parking lots and roadways must use shielded low-pressure sodium fixtures. The Franklin County Planning and Building Department confirms compliance before issuing any building permit, and once a permit issues, the lighting plan cannot be changed without obtaining a new permit.

Section 5-64 extends nearly identical retrofit duties to existing lighting seaward of the CCCL, including utility-leased streetlights: owners must reposition, shield, replace bulbs, or disconnect fixtures they cannot bring into compliance, and windows tinted only to the county's old 45-percent standard lose that grandfathered status once damaged beyond 50 percent of value or replaced.