Leon County, FL Outdoor Lighting: Light Trespass & Shielding (2026)
Key Facts
- Applies to
- New residential subdivisions needing bus stops
- Fixture type required
- Full cut-off, light directed downward
- Stated purpose
- Prevent light trespass or skyglow onto neighbors
- Design approval needed from
- School Board, county engineer, utility provider
- Maintenance/operating cost
- Paid by HOA/POA, not the county
Summary
When a new residential development needs Type A, B, C, or D site plan review and Leon County Schools anticipates a bus stop there, the developer must install a streetlight built with full cut-off fixtures aimed downward, specifically to keep light from spilling onto neighboring properties or washing out the night sky.
(n)School bus stop lighting. To plan for the lighting of school bus stops, all proposed residential development subject to Type A, B, C or D site and development plan review, as outlined in section 10-7.402, shall provide a streetlight where Leon County Schools anticipates a need for a school bus stop.(1)The following shall apply to the streetlight:a.The location, placement and fixture design shall be determined during site plan review and approved by the Leon County School Board, the county engineer (or designee) and the utility service provider.b.To protect neighboring properties from excess light trespass or skyglow, the streetlight shall utilize full cut-off fixtures with light directed downward and internal to the site.c.A legal entity, such as a homeowners' association, property owner's association or similar entity, shall be responsible for the on-going maintenance and operational costs of the streetlight.
Official source re-checked September 7, 2026: no newer edition of the code had been published (publisher’s edition: Code of Ordinances: Supplement 12).
Full Breakdown
" The design is not left to the developer alone: subsection (n)(1)a requires the streetlight's "location, placement and fixture design" to be approved jointly by the Leon County School Board, the county engineer or designee, and the utility service provider before installation. The light-trespass standard itself sits in subsection (n)(1)b, which requires the fixture to "protect neighboring properties from excess light trespass or skyglow" by using "full cut-off fixtures with light directed downward and internal to the site," ruling out unshielded cobra-head or decorative fixtures that throw light sideways onto adjacent yards.
Once installed, the streetlight does not become a county expense: subsection (n)(1)c assigns ongoing maintenance and operating costs to "a legal entity, such as a homeowners' association, property owner's association or similar entity," so the development itself, not Leon County, carries the electric bill and upkeep.
Violations & Fines
A residential development subject to Type A through D site plan review cannot receive plan approval without providing the required bus-stop streetlight where Leon County Schools has identified the need, and without securing sign-off on the fixture's design from the School Board, county engineer, and utility provider. The code does not set a separate dollar fine for a noncompliant fixture; the enforcement point is that the site plan itself is not approved until the full cut-off, downward-directed design is in place.
Frequently Asked Questions
Does Leon County limit floodlights spilling onto a neighbor's yard in general?
What fixture design satisfies the bus-stop light-trespass rule?
Who pays to keep a required bus-stop streetlight running?
Sources & Official References
Other rules in Leon County
Florida rules heatmap·Compare Leon County to another location·View the Florida outdoor lighting overview
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