Palm Bay, FL Outdoor Lighting: Dark Sky Rules (2026)
Key Facts
- LPS lighting
- Banned in all zoning districts
- Lumen cap
- 1,000 lumens per fixture
- Pole height
- Max 30 feet
- Neon/tracer outlining
- Prohibited on buildings, storefronts
Summary
Palm Bay bans low-pressure sodium fixtures citywide, caps outdoor lighting at 1,000 lumens per fixture, and limits light poles to 30 feet under its dark-sky-style lighting code.
The use of low pressure sodium (LPS) lighting is prohibited in all zoning districts.
(5) The undue lighting of the night sky by means of searchlights and similar devices without prior approval from the City Manager or their designee is prohibited.
(6) Neon lighting, LED strip and tracer lighting and other types of lighting used to illuminate the outline of a structure or storefront window system is prohibited.
(7) No lighting fixture shall produce a lumen output exceeding one thousand (1,000) lumens in any given area.
(8) Poles and support structures used for outdoor lighting shall not exceed thirty (30) feet in height. The exception shall permit for required lighting of all communication towers or tall structures as mandated by the FAA and FCC. (Ord. 2024-33, passed 9-19-24)
Official source re-checked September 7, 2026: no newer edition of the code had been published (publisher’s edition: 2026 S-41: Supplement contains: Local legislation current through Ord. 2026-13, passed 5-21-26).
Full Breakdown
Section 177.040(C) of Palm Bay's Land Development Code sets citywide outdoor lighting limits aimed at reducing skyglow: low-pressure sodium lighting is banned in every zoning district, no fixture may exceed 1,000 lumens of output, and light poles and support structures are capped at 30 feet. Metal halide, LED, quartz, and high-intensity discharge lamps are allowed only when properly shielded, and neon, LED strip, or tracer lighting used to outline a building or storefront is prohibited outright. The rules apply to new development and to lighting changes covering 50% or more of a site's permitted lumens.
Violations & Fines
Installing outdoor lighting that exceeds the lumen or pole-height caps, or that uses banned lamp types, is enforced through the city's building permit and inspection process under § 177.040(A).
Frequently Asked Questions
Can I install low-pressure sodium lights in Palm Bay?
How tall can an outdoor light pole be in Palm Bay?
Sources & Official References
Other rules in Palm Bay
Florida rules heatmap·Compare Palm Bay to another location·View the Florida outdoor lighting overview
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Dark Sky Rules in Nearby Cities
How other cities in Brevard County handle dark sky rules.