West Palm Beach enforces sea turtle lighting rules March 1 to October 31 along all coastal areas per City Code Chapter 14 and FL 161.163. All beachfront lighting must be shielded, low-pressure sodium or amber LED, and not visible from the beach.
Lights visible from nesting beaches disorient hatchlings and adult turtles (loggerhead, green, leatherback). Required: long-wavelength amber LED under 560 nm, fully shielded fixtures, lights mounted as low as possible, blackout window treatments. FWC and city inspectors patrol nightly during nesting season. Inland lighting should follow general dark-sky principles but is not strictly regulated.
Sea turtle lighting violations: 500 to 5,000 dollars per fixture per night. Repeat: state and federal Endangered Species Act referrals possible.
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West Palm Beach, FL
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