Coconut Creek, FL Outdoor Lighting: Light Trespass & Shielding (2026)

Light trespass is defined in § 13-374 as light from an artificial light source that is intruding into an area where it does not belong, such as an adjoining or nearby property. The City of Coconut Creek attacks it with a flat rule and with design standards.

The flat rule, § 13-374(2)d.4, says light from a property in any district shall not trespass over property lines. The companion rule, d.3, requires all exterior lighting in all districts to be designed and installed to prevent glare and light trespass, and it bars light that causes glare affecting motorists, bicyclists or other users of roads, driveways and bicycle paths. The section's stated purposes include protecting the privacy of residents.

The code backs those rules with design limits. Full cutoff fixtures are required, and flood or spot lights and wallpacks are prohibited. Parking lot lighting is capped at 10 footcandles measured 3 feet above ground. All non-residential land uses must cut site illumination to 1 footcandle within one hour of closing, covering parking, building, landscape and specialty lighting. Where this section conflicts with another provision of the Land Development Code, the provision giving the greatest protection against glare, light trespass and sky glow applies.

Enforcement is measurement based. When the city learns of a possible compliance issue, staff take site illumination measurements, and a site that fails inspection gets a notice under normal code enforcement procedures. Luminaires directing light toward streets, bicycle paths or parking lots that cause glare to motorists or cyclists had to be shielded or redirected when the section took effect. Football, baseball and soccer fields are exempt but must still take steps to minimize glare and light trespass.