Sarasota County's Marine Turtle Protection Ordinance restricts beachfront lighting during the May 1 to October 31 nesting season on Casey, Lido, Manasota and Siesta Keys and the unincorporated Island of Venice. Lights visible from the beach must be shielded, low-wattage and downward-directed, and floodlights or spotlights visible from the beach
Sarasota County Code Sections 54-751 to 54-765 (the Marine Turtle Protection Ordinance) safeguard nesting and hatchling sea turtles from artificial light along the county's beaches: Casey Key, Lido Key, Manasota Key, Siesta Key, and the unincorporated portions of the Island of Venice. The nesting season runs May 1 to October 31. New development and any lighting visible from the beach must be designed so the point source is not directly visible from the beach and does not directly, indirectly, or cumulatively illuminate areas seaward of the primary dune. Permitted fixtures must be fully shielded downlight-only or recessed, low-wattage (25 watts or less) using bug-type, low-pressure sodium, red LED, or true-neon sources, and mounted as low as possible. Floodlights, uplights and
Beachfront lighting that violates the Marine Turtle Protection Ordinance can trigger county inspection, notice, and code-enforcement penalties; harming marine turtles also violates state and federal endangered-species law.
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