Sarasota, FL Outdoor Lighting: Light Trespass & Shielding (2026)
Key Facts
- Fixture type required
- full cut-off only
- Light source
- concealed in opaque housing
- Mounting direction
- cone aimed toward ground
- Security lighting max
- 10.0 footcandles (storage areas)
Summary
Sarasota's zoning code requires security and site-lighting fixtures to be full cut-off and aimed downward so light stays on-site.
The light source shall be completely concealed within an opaque housing on all sides except for the bottom of the fixture where illumination exits the fixture and shall not be visible from any street right-of-way or adjacent properties. All fixtures shall be full cut-off fixtures. Fixture Height
Fixture Height
(2)Fixture and pole height. Lighting fixtures and poles shall be a maximum of 30 feet in height within the parking lot and shall be a maximum of 15 feet in height within non-vehicular pedestrian areas. Lighting for recreational facilities related to schools and parks shall be exempt from this requirement unless the poles are within 100 feet of residentially zoned property. Bollard lighting shall be a maximum of 42" in height.(3)Light source (lamp). Only incandescent, fluorescent, metal halide, single-color light emitting diode (LED), or color-corrected high-pressure sodium may be used. The same light source type must be used for the same or similar types of lighting on any one site throughout any development.(4)Mounting. Fixtures shall be full cut-off type and mounted in such a manner that the cone of light is primarily directed towards the earth's surface or otherwise shielded, such that lighting is primarily contained on-site.
Official source re-checked September 7, 2026: no newer edition of the code had been published (publisher’s edition: Code of Ordinances: Supplement 33 | Zoning: Supplement 44).
Full Breakdown
Under Zoning Code § VII-1402(c), every fixture on new or expanded nonresidential and multifamily lots, including security lighting over storage areas, must be a full cut-off type with the light source concealed in an opaque housing so it isn't visible from the street or neighboring parcels. Poles and fixtures must be mounted so the cone of light points toward the ground or is otherwise shielded, keeping illumination contained on the site instead of aimed at a neighbor's yard or window.
Violations & Fines
Fixtures that aren't full cut-off, or that spill glare toward adjacent property, fail site-plan review and must be replaced or re-aimed before occupancy.
Frequently Asked Questions
Must security lights be shielded in the City of Sarasota?
Can a security light be aimed at a neighbor's yard?
Sources & Official References
Other rules in Sarasota
Florida rules heatmap·Compare Sarasota to another location·View the Florida outdoor lighting overview
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Light Trespass & Shielding in Nearby Cities
How other cities in Sarasota County handle light trespass & shielding.