Satellite Beach, FL Outdoor Lighting: Dark Sky Rules (2026)

Article X of Chapter 26 establishes an overlay 'sea turtle lighting district' covering every property in the city whose lighting could be visible from the beach, not just beachfront parcels, under § 26-192. Within that district, § 26-206 sets the design standard for lighting on new permanent structures, additions and alterations: fixtures must be long wavelength, downward directed, full cutoff and fully shielded, and mounted as close to the ground or finished floor as possible while still meeting required foot-candle levels. 'Fully shielded' is defined in § 26-181 to mean the glowing elements, lamps or reflectors are completely covered by opaque material, permanently affixed, so nothing is directly visible from the beach.

Beyond the fixture standard, § 26-206 bans floodlights outright for all land uses in the district and bans dune-crossover lighting for single-family uses (subsection (m)), requires tinted or filmed glass or window treatments with a light transmission value of 45 percent or less on windows and doors within line-of-sight of the beach (subsection (l)), and requires an electrical engineer's signed compliance report before a certificate of occupancy issues (subsection (o)). Existing development must be brought into compliance under § 26-207, and short-term rentals leased for under six months must post a sign near ocean-visible windows or doors reading 'March 1st-October 31st, Lights out between 9pm and 7am for sea turtles. ' under § 26-207(8). A dedicated beach lighting inspector conducts nighttime inspections under § 26-222 and can issue citations.