Brevard County, FL Outdoor Lighting: Light Trespass & Shielding (2026)
Key Facts
- Governing section
- Brevard County Code § 62-2257
- Shielding trigger
- Fixtures within 5 ft of property line
- Residential glare cap
- 0.2 footcandle at property line
- Applies to
- Site-plan-required properties only
- Exempt
- Street lighting in rights-of-way
Summary
Unincorporated Brevard requires site-planned properties to shield outdoor lighting: cut-off fixtures with house-side shields near property lines, no glare crossing the boundary, and strict footcandle limits at residential lines.
Exterior lighting elements or structural materials installed on site 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 to a person of ordinary and reasonable sensibilities... All cut-off fixtures installed within five feet of the property line shall utilize a horizontal lamp with house-side shields... Non cut-off and accent lighting fixtures are prohibited to be installed within five feet of the property line.
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 Sec. 62-2257 governs exterior lighting on any property required to file a site plan under Sec. 62-3203. Fixtures above 2,780 lumens must be cut-off type with a flat lens mounted parallel to the ground; any cut-off fixture within five feet of the property line needs a horizontal lamp with house-side shields, and non-cut-off or accent fixtures are barred from that five-foot strip entirely. Illumination at an abutting residential line is capped at 0.2 footcandle, and glare crossing the site boundary cannot be objectionable to an ordinary person. Street lighting in public rights-of-way is exempt.
Violations & Fines
Noncompliant lighting can hold up site plan and building permit approval, and code enforcement can cite ongoing glare that crosses the property line as a continuing violation under the county general penalty provisions.
Frequently Asked Questions
Does this cover an ordinary house's porch or security light?
How close to my property line can I mount a bright security fixture?
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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