§ 6-49. Lighting standards for new development.

It is the policy of the City of Fort Lauderdale that no artificial light shall illuminate any area of the incorporated beaches of Fort Lauderdale, Florida. To meet this intent, building and electrical plans for construction of single-family, townhouse and multi-family dwellings, time share dwellings, hotels, motels, commercial, community facility and other structures, including electrical plans associated with parking lots, parking structures, dune walkovers or other outdoor lighting for real property if lighting associated with such construction or development can be seen from the beach, shall be in compliance with the following:

(1)

Exterior artificial light fixtures shall be designed and positioned so that the point source of light or any reflective surface of the light fixture is not directly visible from the beach; areas seaward of the frontal dune are not directly or indirectly illuminated; and areas seaward of the dune are not cumulatively illuminated.

(2)

Exterior artificial light fixtures within direct line-of-sight of the beach are considered appropriately designed if they are completely shielded downlight only fixtures, or recessed fixtures having low wattage (i.e., "bug" type bulbs of fifty (50) watts or less) and non-reflective interior surfaces are used. Other fixtures that have appropriate shields, louvers or cut-off features may also be used if in compliance with the requirements of subsection (1) of this section.

(3)

All fixtures shall be mounted as low in elevation as possible through use of low-mounted wall fixtures, wall fixtures fitted with hoods so that no light is directly visible from the beach or illuminates the beach, low bollards and ground-level fixtures.

(4)

Floodlights, upward-oriented lights, spotlights or search lights for decorative and accent purposes, or used as security lights, are prohibited if they would be directly visible from the beach, or would indirectly or cumulatively illuminate the beach.

(5)

Exterior lights used expressly for safety or security purposes shall be limited to the minimum number and configuration required to achieve the safety and security function in compliance with the provisions of crime prevention through environmental design (CPTED). It is preferred that motion detectors are employed to keep lights off except when approached, and that such motion detectors switch lights on for the minimum duration possible.

(6)

Pole lights, if used, shall be shielded in such a manner that light will be contained primarily within the area that is landward of the pole, and light shall not be directly visible from the beach.

(7)

Lights on balconies and catwalks facing the ocean shall be limited to: low profile luminaries positioned so that no light illuminates or is visible from the beach; wall mounted fixtures fitted with hoods with non-reflective interiors so that no light illuminates the beach or overhead lighting containing bug-type bulbs or other bulbs with fifty (50) watts or less and non-reflective interior surfaces.

(8)

Tinted glass shall be installed on all windows and glass doors of single and multi-story structures facing or within line-of-sight of the beach. Shade screens can be substituted for this requirement.

(9)

Parking areas and structures shall be designed and located to prevent vehicular headlights from directly or indirectly illuminating the beach. Parking area and parking structure lighting shall be shielded from the beach through the use of shields that direct light away from the beach, and ground-level barriers designed in conformance to the CPTED principals. Such ground-level barriers shall not interfere with marine turtle nesting or hatchling emergence and shall not cause short or long-term damage to the beach/dune system. Entrances and exits to parking structures shall not face the ocean. Surfaces of parking areas shall not contain ground glass or other reflexive material.

(10)

Lighting provided for any outdoor recreational feature on the beach (such as tennis court, swimming pool, etc.) shall be shielded to prevent light from directly or indirectly illuminating the beach.

(11)

Dune crosswalks, if lighted, shall utilize low profile shielded luminaries.

(12)

No roof top advertising sign that is illuminated in any fashion shall be permitted.

(13)

Temporary security lights at construction sites shall not be mounted more than fifteen (15) feet above the ground. Illumination from the lights shall be the minimum necessary to assure security, shall not spread beyond the boundary of the property being developed, and in no case shall such lights illuminate the beach.

( Ord. No. C-03-9, § 1, 2-18-03 )