Sea Turtle Lighting Rules for Florida Beach Rentals

Many Florida beachfront cities and counties have a sea turtle lighting ordinance, and during nesting season those rules reach the porch lights, the pool lights and the lamp in the front window. The Florida Fish and Wildlife Conservation Commission (FWC) treats October 31 as the end of the season, and county codes such as Sarasota’s and Walton’s start it on May 1.

When is sea turtle nesting season in Florida?

FWC’s 2026 nesting season notice says sea turtles typically return to nest in March along Florida’s southeast Atlantic coast, and that nesting begins on the Gulf Coast and north Florida beaches in April or May. FWC’s lighting guidance says decorative lights should stay off until nesting season ends on October 31.

Local codes write their own dates into law. Sarasota County Code §54-754 and Walton County Ordinance 2009-03 both define the nesting season as May 1 through October 31. For a rental, the local definition is the one code enforcement applies.

Why does lighting matter to sea turtles?

FWC says lights visible from the beach can create a hazard for nesting and hatchling sea turtles. Walton County’s ordinance cites scientific studies concluding that certain artificial lighting inhibits nesting and interferes with the natural light cues hatchlings use to find the water.

Interior light counts. FWC warns that interior lights can quickly turn a turtle-friendly building into one that causes disorientations, which is why the rules below reach windows and blinds.

What does FWC ask beachfront properties to do?

FWC’s three golden rules are keep it low, long and shielded:

• Low: mount fixtures as low as possible for their purpose, with the lowest wattage or lumens needed.
• Long: use bulbs that produce only long-wavelength light, 560 nanometers or greater, which appears amber, orange or red.
• Shielded: fixtures must be completely downward-directed and shield the bulb or lens from the beach.

FWC keeps a list of Wildlife Lighting certified fixtures that meet all three rules, and recommends replacing any fixture that cannot be modified. For windows, it recommends closing coverings at night, moving lamps away from windows, and window tint with 45% or less inside-to-outside transmittance. Lights needed for safety or security should be modified rather than switched off.

Who sets the enforceable rules?

Section 161.163, Florida Statutes, directs the Department of Environmental Protection to designate coastal areas used or likely to be used by sea turtles for nesting and to set guidelines for local beachfront lighting rules. The model ordinance is Chapter 62B-55 of the Florida Administrative Code.

Counties and cities adopt their own versions, and FWC lists them on its sea turtle protection ordinances page. Coverage is uneven: FWC lists no lighting ordinance for Pinellas County, while beach cities there, including St. Pete Beach, Treasure Island, Madeira Beach and Indian Rocks Beach, have their own. Check the city first, then the county.

What does Sarasota County require?

Sarasota County’s Sea Turtle Protection Ordinance (Code §§54-751 to 54-765) applies to Lido Key, Siesta Key, Casey Key, Manasota Key and the unincorporated parts of the Island of Venice.

For existing homes, section 54-756 requires that no light source or reflective surface be directly visible from the beach, and that the beach not be directly, indirectly or cumulatively lit. Owners can reposition or shield fixtures, switch to recessed or directional fixtures, use yellow bug-type bulbs of 25 watts or less, red LEDs or other listed sources, plant vegetation buffers, or disable fixtures that cannot comply. For interior light reaching the beach, it lists window tint meeting the 45% standard, moving lamps, blinds or curtains, and turning off unnecessary lights.

Section 54-758 matters directly to guests. From sunset to sunrise during nesting season it prohibits bonfires, most motorized vehicles on the beach, and lighting that purposely illuminates nesting turtles or hatchlings. Beach chairs, umbrellas and cabanas must be removed from the beach nightly or stored where the county designates. Under section 54-762, violations are punishable as misdemeanors and each day is a separate offense.

What does Walton County require?

Walton County’s Wildlife Lighting Ordinance (Ordinance 2009-03) covers the Wildlife Conservation Zone, which runs from the mean high water line to 750 feet landward along the Gulf. The ordinance text sets two general standards for exterior lighting in the zone: the light source or any reflective surface may not be directly visible from the beach, and the light may not directly or indirectly illuminate the beach or dunes seaward of the primary dune crest.

Section 5.10.04 speaks to rentals. Owners who remit tourist development taxes within the zone must post standardized signs in common areas and give renters printed information about the ordinance. The county’s 2023 vacation rental ordinance repeats the point: a certified rental inside the Wildlife Protection Zone must post a notice of sea turtle nesting season restrictions and lighting use by the main entrance or on the refrigerator (Ordinance 2023-03). Our Santa Rosa Beach, Miramar Beach and Rosemary Beach pages cover the rest of the county’s rental rules.

Enforcement follows Chapter 162, Florida Statutes, and the ordinance makes owners responsible for violations they or their tenants commit.

What does a manager do at a beach rental during nesting season?

1. Read the city or county lighting ordinance for the address, using FWC’s ordinance list.
2. Fit exterior fixtures facing the beach with Wildlife Lighting certified fixtures or compliant bulbs, and put security lights on motion sensors where the code allows.
3. Turn off decorative, pool and landscape lighting that the code does not permit during the season.
4. Post the required notices and send guests a short message before arrival: close the blinds at night, use flashlights and phone lights on the beach only when necessary, bring chairs and toys in before sunset, and fill in holes.
5. Report sick, injured, entangled or dead turtles to FWC’s Wildlife Alert Hotline, 888-404-FWCC (3922) (FWC).

How Florida Hosts helps

Lighting rules are carried out in the house and explained to guests, and we have our own cleaning and maintenance staff across Florida for the first part and 24/7 guest communication for the second. We also offer licensing and registration help with the DBPR license, local registration and tax accounts. Short-term management is 18–25% of booking revenue, quoted in writing; browse areas we serve or ask for a free rental projection within one business day.

This guide is general information and not legal or tax advice; confirm current lighting rules with your county or city code enforcement office or FWC.