Miami Beach, FL Outdoor Lighting: Dark Sky Rules (2026)
Key Facts
- Overlay
- Turtle Nesting Protection Ordinance, Art. V
- Nesting season
- April 1 through October 31
- New development standard
- fully shielded, downlight-only fixtures
- Existing building retrofit deadline
- 1 year from Oct. 30, 2024
- Banned outright
- floodlights visible from the beach
- Enforcement
- daily fine or city removes the light
Summary
During sea turtle nesting season, April 1 through October 31, Miami Beach's Turtle Nesting Protection Ordinance bars artificial light that is directly, indirectly or cumulatively visible from the beach. City Code Sec. 46-203(d) forces new construction near the beach to use fully shielded, downward-facing, low-wattage fixtures, and bans floodlights or spotlights within line of sight of the sand.
(d)Lighting standards for new development. It is the policy of the City of Miami Beach that no artificial light shall be directly, indirectly, or cumulatively visible from any area of the beach. ... (1)Exterior artificial light fixtures shall be designed and positioned so that the point source of light or any reflective surface is not directly, indirectly, or cumulatively visible from the beach.(2)Exterior artificial light fixtures within direct line-of-sight of the beach shall be completely shielded downlight only fixtures, or recessed fixtures having low wattage long wavelength light sources and non-reflective interior surfaces.
Official source re-checked September 7, 2026: no newer edition of the code had been published (publisher’s edition: Code of Ordinances: Supplement 98 | Resiliency Code (Current Land Development Regulations): Publication | Ordinance 89-2665 (Previous Land Development Regulations): Publication).
Full Breakdown
Article V of Chapter 46, readopted in its entirety by Ordinance No. 2024-4652 on October 30, 2024, protects loggerhead, green, leatherback, hawksbill and Kemp's ridley sea turtles that nest on Miami Beach's sand. Sec. 46-203(d) governs any new development on public or private property within line-of-sight of the beach: exterior fixtures must be positioned so no point source or reflective surface is directly, indirectly or cumulatively visible from the beach, and any fixture within direct line-of-sight must be a completely shielded, downlight-only or recessed unit using a low-wattage, long-wavelength (over 560 nanometer) bulb.
C. 004 standard. Buildings permitted before the ordinance's effective date instead fall under Sec. 46-203(f), which required repositioning or shielding all noncompliant exterior fixtures within six months and full remediation, such as switching to long-wavelength bulbs or building a ground-level light barrier, within one year. Streetlights and other city-owned lighting installed after the ordinance took effect must also be shielded or low-profile. The rules run only within the nesting season and only where lighting could be seen from the beach; they do not create a general citywide dark-sky code for interior neighborhoods.
Violations & Fines
Violations go to the property owner after a hearing opportunity; if a fixture isn't cured within ten days of the order the city may remove the offending light itself and bill the owner, or assess a daily fine that keeps accruing until nesting season ends or the violation is fixed. Unpaid removal costs become a lien collected when the property sells.
Frequently Asked Questions
Does Miami Beach require shielded outdoor lighting near the beach?
When is turtle nesting season in Miami Beach?
What happens if my building's lights aren't shielded?
Are floodlights banned everywhere in Miami Beach?
Sources & Official References
Other rules in Miami Beach
Florida rules heatmap·Compare Miami Beach to another location·View the Florida outdoor lighting overview
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Dark Sky Rules in Nearby Cities
How other cities in Miami-Dade County handle dark sky rules.