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's sea-turtle protection ordinance (Code Ch. 14, Art. II, Div. 2, Sec. 14-71 et seq.) protects nesting sea turtles and hatchlings on unincorporated Gulf of Mexico beaches from artificial lighting. Nesting season means 9:00 p.m. until 7:00 a.m. during May 1 through October 31 each year. Existing development must ensure nesting habitat is not directly or indirectly illuminated and that light is not directly or indirectly visible from the beach or dunes during the season. New development must use long-wavelength (amber, 560 nanometers or greater) light, fully shielded downlight-only or recessed fixtures mounted low, and turtle-glass on beach-facing windows. Mercury vapor and metal halide lighting are prohibited.
A rebuttable presumption of violation arises when artificial light casts a shadow of an opaque object in nesting habitat. The County pursues code enforcement plus civil and criminal remedies under Ch. 2, Art. VII.
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