The Florida Department of Environmental Protection and the Florida Fish and Wildlife Conservation Commission (FWC) dually review permits for coastal construction under Chapter 62B, F.A.C. that affects Marine Turtles through specific Authority 370.12 FS. Law Implemented 161.041, 370.12(1) FS. History-New 8-23-92.

1.       The location of all proposed permanent exterior lighting fixtures clearly marked by distinctive symbols for each model used,

2.       A table with the column headings shown below providing the specified information for each fixture model used, and

3.       A detailed description or manufacturer’s catalog sheet (cut sheet) for each fixture model used.  

The application will be reviewed by the FWC in accordance with the FWC Fish and Wildlife Research Institute Technical Report TR-2: Understanding, Assessing, and Resolving Light-Pollution Problems on Sea Turtle Nesting Beaches.  

Typical lighting issues covered in the report are:

1.       Lighting from indoor sources – require curtains/blinds and/or window tinting or other treatments.

2.       Alternative long-wavelength light sources, such as low-pressure sodium vapor and “bug lights” (yellow and red color-tinted incandescent lights), yellow or orange dichroic long-pass filters and red LEDs.

3.       Examples of acceptable lighting fixtures:

1. Low-Profile luminaires, tier lights

2. Low-Profile luminaires, bollard lights

3. Low-Profile, miscellaneous low-level lighting

4. Wall- and ceiling-mounted downlighting

5. Recessed, ceiling downlighting

6. Arm-mounted and pole-top HID Cutoff Luminaires

7. Arm-mounted and pole-top LPS Cutoff Luminaires

8. LPS ceiling-mounted fixtures

9. LPS wall-mounted fixtures

10. Floodlighting fixtures, LPS and HID

11. Motion-detector lighting

4.        Examples of unacceptable lighting fixtures:

1. Unshielded or poorly-shielded floodlights

2. Unshielded wallpacks

3. Unshielded or poorly-shielded wall mount fixtures

4. Drop-lens and sag-lens fixtures with exposed bulb/refractor lens

5. Unshielded streetlights

6. Unshielded "Period" style fixtures

7. Unshielded security lights

8. Unshielded PAR floodlights

9. Drop-lens canopy fixtures

Dean Gallagher, Environmental Specialist II
Florida Fish & Wildlife Conservation Commission
Division of Habitat and Species Conservation
Imperiled Species Management Section
620 South Meridian Street
Tallahassee, FL 32399-1600
PHONE (850) 922-4330
FAX (850) 921-6988

Excerpts from Florida Administrative Code - Chapter 62B-34, General Permits for Activities Seaward of the Coastal Construction Control Line

(4)   Turtle Protection Requirements.  All work authorized by this General Permit shall meet the following turtle protection requirements:

(a)    All windows and glass doors on the seaward and shore-perpendicular sides of any new dwellings or additions shall be tinted to transmittance value (light transmission from inside to outside) of 45% or less through the use of tinted glass or window film or screens.

(b)    The following types of lighting are authorized under the General Permit.  Any departure or deviation from these lighting requirements shall constitute a violation of the General Permit.

1.     Balcony, deck and entranceway lights shall be canister down-light fixtures or louvered wall lights that adhere to the following standard:

a.   Canister down-light fixtures shall be equipped with black baffles or grates, shall have the light source recessed so that it is not visible from the beach, shall be used with one 480 (or less) lumens output standard incandescent (or equivalent) yellow “bug” bulb, and shall be limited to no more than one fixture per egress. 

b.   Louvered wall lights shall be mounted 12 inches or less above the adjacent floor or deck, shall be equipped with louvers that completely hide the light source, shall be used with one 480 (or less) lumens output standard incandescent (or equivalent) yellow “bug” bulb, and shall be limited to no more than one fixture per egress.

2.     Underhouse lights for unenclosed or partially enclosed parking and building access areas shall be canister fixtures, either mounted on piles or recessed into the ceiling.  The fixtures shall be equipped with black baffles, shall have the light source recessed so that it is not visible from the beach, shall be used with one 480 (or less) lumens output standard incandescent (or equivalent) yellow “bug” bulb, and shall be limited to no more than one fixture per 100 square feet of parking or building access area.

3.   Landscaping and pathway lights shall be mushroom type fixtures, shall extend no more than 12 inches above the ground, shall be used with 220(or less) lumens output standard incandescent (or equivalent) bulbs or with 400 (or less) lumens output compact fluorescent (or equivalent) bulbs, shall extend no farther seaward than the house, and shall be limited to one fixture per 8 feet of path length or 1 fixture per 100 square feet of ground area.

(c)    No lights shall be permitted on dune walkovers or elevated walkovers to the beach.

(d) No additional lighting shall be authorized.

(e)   No temporary lighting of the construction area is authorized at any time during the marine turtle-nesting season (May 1-Oct 31 all counties except Brevard, Indian River, St. Lucie, Martin, Palm Beach and Broward counties March 1-Oct31)

Disclaimer: The information on this web site is provisional. For matters affecting legal rights, please refer to the printed version of the appropriate official publication.