Miami, FL Outdoor Lighting: Light Trespass & Shielding (2026)
Key Facts
- T3 cap
- 1.0 foot-candle at frontage
- T4 cap
- 2.0 foot-candles at frontage
- T5 cap
- 5.0 foot-candles at frontage
- T6 cap
- 20 foot-candles at frontage
- Measured at
- the Building Frontage
Summary
Miami 21 caps average lighting measured at the building frontage on a sliding scale by Transect Zone, from 1.0 foot-candle in T3 up to 20 foot-candles in T6, and requires it stay compatible with street lighting on abutting property.
b. Average lighting levels measured at the Building Frontage shall not exceed 2.0 fc (foot-candles).
c. Lighting of Building and Open Space of First and Second Layers shall be compatible with street lighting of Abutting public spaces.
d. The lighting fixtures of exposed rooftop parking shall be concealed by a parapet wall and shall not be seen from surrounding streets.
ILLUSTRATION 5.4 GENERAL URBAN TRANSECT ZONES (T4) BUILDING DISPOSITION
BUILDING PLACEMENT
LOT OCCUPATION
ABUTTING SIDE AND REAR T4/T5/T6
ABUTTING SIDE AND REAR T3
a. Lot Area -With rear vehicular access 5,000 s.f. min.; 40,000 s.f. max. 1,400 s.f. min.; 40,000 s.f. max.
b. Lot Width -With rear vehicular access 50 ft min. 16 ft min.
c. Lot Coverage 60% (70%*) max.
d. Floor Lot Ratio (FLR) N/A
e. Frontage at front Setback 50% min.
f. Open Space 15% Lot Area min.
g. Density 36 du/ac max. BUILDING SETBACK
a. Principal Front 10 ft. min.
b. Secondary Front 10 ft. min.
c. Side 0 ft.
d. Abutting Side T3 5 ft. min.
e. Rear 5 ft. min.
f. Abutting Rear T3 20 ft. min. ANCILLARY BUILDING SETBACK
ANCILLARY BUILDING PLACEMENT
a. Principal Front 25 ft. min.
b. Secondary Front 10 ft. min.
c. Side 0 ft. or 5 ft. min. Abutting a Setback
d. Rear 5 ft. min. BUILDING CONFIGURATION
PARKING PLACEMENT
FRONTAGE
a. Common Lawn permitted b. Porch & Fence permitted c. Terrace or L.C permitted d. Forecourt permitted e. Stoop prohibited
Official source re-checked September 7, 2026: no newer edition of the code had been published (publisher’s edition: Code of Ordinances: Supplement 23 | Ordinance 11000 (Previous Zoning Code): Supplement 22 | Miami 21 (Zoning Code): ?).
Full Breakdown
Instead of a single citywide glare rule, Miami 21 sets the foot-candle ceiling by Transect Zone: 1.0 fc in T3 (Sec. 5.3.7), 2.0 fc in T4 (Sec. 5.4.7), 5.0 fc in T5 (Sec. 5.5.7), and 20 fc in T6 (Sec. 5.6.7), each measured at the Building Frontage. Every zone's Ambient Standards also require Building and Open Space lighting to stay compatible with the street lighting of abutting public spaces, and in T5/T6 rooftop parking fixtures must be concealed behind a parapet wall so they are not visible from surrounding streets. A separate citywide Design Review standard (Article 4, Table 12) directs applicants to orient lighting to minimize glare to the public realm and abutting properties.
Violations & Fines
Enforced through the Building/Zoning permit and certificate-of-occupancy process administered by the City of Miami Department of Planning and Zoning; a lighting plan exceeding the applicable zone's foot-candle cap or leaving rooftop parking fixtures exposed is a Miami 21 non-compliance that can hold up permit approval or trigger code enforcement after the fact.
Frequently Asked Questions
Why does Miami's light limit change block to block?
Does a T4 or T5 building have to shield rooftop parking lights?
Sources & Official References
Other rules in Miami
Florida rules heatmap·Compare Miami to another location·View the Florida outdoor lighting overview
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Light Trespass & Shielding in Nearby Cities
How other cities in Miami-Dade County handle light trespass & shielding.