Skip to main content
CityRuleLookup

Flagler County, FL Outdoor Lighting: Light Trespass & Shielding (2026)

Some Restrictions
Compiled from the official code textEditor Martyn O'NeillLast verified September 2026

Key Facts

Applies to
I-Industrial zoned property only
Standard
Minimize illumination cast on adjacent residential areas
Method required
Direct fixtures inward, reduce wattage/candle power
Exempted lighting
Parking, pedestrian, signage, decorative spot lighting
Enforcement
Civil citation under Chapter 9, Article III

Summary

In unincorporated Flagler County, Florida, the Land Development Code's industrial performance standards require outdoor lighting on I-Industrial zoned property to be designed to minimize illumination cast onto adjacent residential areas, directing fixtures inward and reducing wattage where possible. The standard applies only to industrially zoned parcels, not to residential or commercial lots.

These county ordinances apply to unincorporated areas of Flagler County. Incorporated cities within the county may have their own rules that take precedence over county-level regulations.

7.Glare provisions.(a)Every industrial use shall be so operated as to prevent the emission of glare of such intensity as to be readily perceptible beyond the lot line of the property on which the use is located.(b)Outdoor lighting, including the illumination of the parking areas, pedestrian paths, signage, and spot lighting used for aesthetic or decorative reasons, is exempted from this provision except that such outdoor lighting shall be designed to minimize the illumination cast on adjacent residential areas by directing such lights, if possible, toward the interior of the industrial property and/or by reducing the wattage or candle power of the lights.

Full Breakdown

Flagler County's I-Industrial district carries a package of performance standards meant to keep industrial operations from becoming a nuisance to neighboring land, covering noise, vibration, odor and glare. The glare provisions state that every industrial use must be operated to prevent glare readily perceptible beyond the property's lot line. The code then addresses ordinary site lighting directly: parking lot illumination, pedestrian path lighting, signage lighting and decorative spot lighting are exempted from the general glare prohibition, but that exemption comes with a condition. The exempted lighting still has to be designed to minimize the illumination cast on adjacent residential areas, and the code directs that this be done by aiming fixtures toward the interior of the industrial property and, where possible, by reducing the wattage or candle power of the lights.

This is a design-and-direction standard rather than a numeric footcandle limit measured at the property line; the county did not adopt a lux or footcandle ceiling for spillover onto neighboring lots the way some jurisdictions do. The broader industrial performance standards package these lighting rules sit inside also covers noise limits by receiving district (60 dBA daytime and 55 dBA nighttime for adjoining residential land), vibration and odor, all enforced at the property line and administered through the county's civil citation process for industrial performance-standard violations, which is separate from the general LDC penalty section.

Because this provision is confined to the I-Industrial district, it does not reach outdoor lighting on residential, commercial or agricultural parcels in unincorporated Flagler County, and it has no application inside Palm Coast, Flagler Beach, Beverly Beach or Marineland, each of which regulates lighting under its own municipal code.

Violations & Fines

Industrial performance-standard violations, including the lighting and glare requirements, are enforced through the civil citation system under Chapter 9, Article III of the Flagler County Code; a code enforcement officer who confirms a violation at the property line issues a citation, and the Board of County Commissioners sets the fine amounts by resolution, with repeat violations within twelve months referred for judicial enforcement as a public nuisance.

Frequently Asked Questions

Does Flagler County set a numeric limit for how much light can spill onto my property?
No footcandle or lux ceiling is written into the industrial performance standards. Instead, the Land Development Code requires industrial-zoned lighting to be designed and directed to minimize illumination cast on adjacent residential areas, a design standard rather than a measured limit.
Does this rule cover my residential neighbor's floodlights?
No. The provision sits inside the I-Industrial district's performance standards and applies only to lighting on industrially zoned property. Lighting disputes between residential neighbors in unincorporated Flagler County are not addressed by this section.
Who enforces a light trespass complaint against an industrial property?
Flagler County code enforcement officers handle it through the civil citation system set out in Chapter 9, Article III of the county code, with fine amounts for first, second and third violations set by resolution of the Board of County Commissioners.

Sources & Official References

Other rules in Flagler County

All Flagler County rules

Florida rules heatmap·Compare Flagler County to another location·View the Florida outdoor lighting overview

Get notified when Light Trespass & Shielding in Flagler County, FL changes

We'll email you the moment we detect a change in the code. No spam, unsubscribe anytime.

We'll never sell or share your email. One-click unsubscribe in every email.

See something wrong?

Help us keep this page accurate. If you notice an error or outdated information, let us know.

Light Trespass & Shielding in Cities Across Flagler County