Sarasota County's outdoor-lighting standards cap light spilling onto neighbors: illumination at the property line may not exceed 0.2 footcandles on adjacent residential uses and 0.5 footcandles on commercial sites and public rights-of-way. Lighting cannot glare onto streets, and outdoor recreation areas next to homes cannot be lit after 10:00 p.m.
Under Sarasota County's outdoor-lighting regulations (Unified Development Code, formerly Zoning Section 7.5), all outdoor lighting must be designed and located so that the maximum illumination measured in footcandles at the property line does not exceed 0.2 on adjacent residential uses and 0.5 on adjacent commercial sites and public rights-of-way. Lighting shall not be oriented to direct glare or excessive illumination onto streets in a way that may distract or interfere with drivers' vision. Fixtures accenting architectural features, landscaping, or art must be located, aimed, or shielded to minimize light spill into the night sky, and lighting must meet on-site needs without intrusion onto adjacent properties. Outdoor recreation areas adjacent to residential uses or districts may not be illuminated after 10:00
Lighting that exceeds the footcandle limits at the property line, glares onto streets, or illuminates recreation areas after 10 p.m. is a code violation subject to correction orders and code-enforcement fines.
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