Brevard County, FL Outdoor Lighting: Dark Sky Rules (2026)
Key Facts
- Governing section
- Brevard County Code § 62-2257
- Fixture threshold
- Cut-off required above 2,780 lumens
- Residential line limit
- 0.2 footcandles at property line
- Accent up-lighting cap
- 5.0 footcandles max
- Scope
- Unincorporated Brevard only
Summary
Unincorporated Brevard requires cut-off, shielded fixtures on any site plan and caps light spilling onto neighboring residential land at 0.2 footcandles.
Exterior lighting elements... shall not cast light or reflect glare beyond the boundaries of the site to the extent that the amount of glare or light is objectionable... All lighting fixtures or luminaires providing light intensities greater than 2,780 initial lumens...shall utilize cut-off fixtures with a flat lens... Accent lighting fixtures which utilize up-lighting...shall be limited to a maximum 5.0 foot-candles lighting threshold in order to limit the adverse impacts of light pollution (illumination of the night sky).
Official source re-checked September 7, 2026: no newer edition of the code had been published (publisher’s edition: Code of Ordinances: Supplement 135).
Full Breakdown
Brevard County Code § 62-2257 governs exterior lighting on any property required to submit a site plan under § 62-3203. Fixtures over 2,780 initial lumens must be cut-off fixtures with a flat lens, mounted parallel to the ground, and fixtures within 5 feet of a property line need horizontal lamps with house-side shields. Illumination at an abutting residential property line is capped at 0.2 footcandles; up-lighting accent fixtures are capped at 5.0 footcandles specifically to limit light pollution and illumination of the night sky. The rule applies only in unincorporated Brevard. Palm Bay, Melbourne, Titusville, Cocoa, Cocoa Beach, Rockledge and the other incorporated cities enforce their own lighting standards, and the section explicitly exempts street lighting in public or private rights-of-way.
Violations & Fines
Code enforcement can require retrofitting noncompliant fixtures at site plan review or after a complaint; light exceeding 50 footcandles needs a conditional use approval showing exacting need.
Frequently Asked Questions
Does this apply inside Melbourne or Cocoa Beach?
Is this the same rule as the beachfront sea turtle lighting law?
Sources & Official References
Other rules in Brevard County
Florida rules heatmap·Compare Brevard County to another location·View the Florida outdoor lighting overview
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