Fort Myers, FL Sign Regulations: Holiday Displays (2026)
Key Facts
- Wattage exemption
- <8W incandescent or <100 lumens
- Sign code status
- Decorations not regulated as signs
- Display duration
- No duration limit specified
- Above threshold
- Full lighting standards apply
Summary
Fort Myers exempts low-wattage holiday lights and seasonal decorations from its outdoor lighting and sign standards, so no permit or dimming compliance is required for typical string lights on a home or business in Lee County.
Low wattage holiday decorative lighting fixtures (comprised by incandescent bulbs of less than eight watts each or other lamps of output less than 100 lumens each) used for holiday decoration; and4.Lighting for public roads except as provided in section 134.2.27.D.Standards and criteria. In addition to the standards and criteria for outdoor lighting established in this subsection, Table 1 shall be adhered to.1.Illuminance. Table 1 is provided as a general synopsis of the illumination level requirements. These levels are based upon general use or task categories and are measured in foot-candles on the task surface (for example the parking lot or area surface) with a light meter held parallel to the ground or other surface, facing up, unless otherwise specifically stated. Table 1: Illumination Level Requirements (1)
Use/Task Initial Actual
Foot-candles (2), (3) Parking, multi-family Low vehicular/pedestrian activity 0.3 min. Medium vehicular/pedestrian activity 0.8 min. Parking, industrial/commercial/ institutional, municipal High activity, e.g., shopping centers, fast food facilities, major athletic/civic, cultural events. 1.2 min. Medium activity, e.g., office parks, hospitals, commuter lots, cultural/civic/recreational events 0.8 min. Low activity, e.g., neighborhood shopping, industrial employee parking, school, church parking 0.3 min. Non-residential walkways and bikeways 0.3 min. Canopy, drive-thru, fuel pumps, overhang 6.0 min
Footnotes:
Official source re-checked September 7, 2026: no newer edition of the code had been published (publisher’s edition: Code of Ordinances: Supplement 60).
Full Breakdown
Fort Myers's Land Development Code exempts low-wattage holiday decorative lighting from its outdoor lighting standards entirely, fixtures using incandescent bulbs under eight watts each, or other lamps under 100 lumens each, used for holiday decoration are listed as a general exemption in § 134.3.8.C.3, alongside emergency lighting and open-flame fixtures. The sign code adds a parallel carve-out: § 126-11(7) states that seasonal or holiday decorations are not considered signs, so the whole sign chapter, permits, area limits, illumination rules, doesn't apply to them. Neither provision sets a display season or removal deadline; the exemption turns on wattage, not timing. In Lee County's Fort Myers, this covers typical residential and commercial string lighting.
Violations & Fines
Lights above the wattage threshold lose the exemption and must meet full § 134.3.8 outdoor lighting standards, shielding, foot-candle caps, enforced through the city's normal code enforcement process, not a special holiday penalty.
Frequently Asked Questions
Do I need a permit for Christmas lights in Fort Myers?
Is there a time limit on how long holiday lights can stay up?
Sources & Official References
Other rules in Fort Myers
Florida rules heatmap·Compare Fort Myers to another location·View the Florida sign regulations overview
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