St. Petersburg, FL Outdoor Lighting: Dark Sky Rules (2026)

070 of the Land Development Regulations governs virtually all new outdoor lighting in St. Petersburg, whether or not a building permit is required. The stated purpose is to reduce light pollution, glare and trespass, conserve energy while keeping night-time safety, and protect residents' privacy and views of the night sky, following the City's Vision 2020 recommendations. Every new outdoor walkway, parking lot, canopy and building or wall-mounted fixture must be a full cut-off type, as must fixtures on the above-ground floors of open-sided parking structures; lights recessed under a porch roof or overhang that function the same way are excused.

Where a multifamily building of three or more units, or any nonresidential use, sits next to residentially zoned land or a one- or two-unit dwelling, every fixture must either be set back the minimum distance from the lot line or fitted with a "house-side shield": a visor or panel mounted on the residential side of the fixture. A single- or two-unit dwelling that abuts another residential lot must simply shield or angle its fixtures to stop light trespass. A development permit is required only when a fixture is mounted on a pole taller than ten feet; anything shorter needs no development permit, though a building permit can still apply.

The POD may grant a written temporary exemption, capped at 30 consecutive days, within five business days of a complete request. Fixtures installed before September 10, 2007 that don't meet the standard are legal nonconforming, but must be shielded, redirected, replaced or removed the moment they cause visible glare to residential uses or motorists on adjoining rights-of-way, and any new use, structural change, or 12-month property abandonment forces full compliance.