Exceptions:
 Non-cutoff fixtures may be used when the
maximum lumens generated by each fixture does not exceed 2,000 lumens per
fixture.
 All metal halide, mercury vapor, fluorescent, induction, white high pressure sodium and color improved high pressure
sodium lamps used in non-cutoff fixtures
shall be coated with an internal white
frosting inside the outer lamp envelope.
An outdoor lighting plan must be submitted
for any project that requires a development
order and includes outdoor lighting.
Exemptions:
The following types of projects are exempt from
the requirement for an outdoor lighting plan.
However, the project must otherwise comply
with the requirements of Section 7.17.03.B. of
the Land Development Code.

A detached single family home;
 All metal halide fixtures equipped with a
medium base socket must utilize either an
internal refractive lens or a wide-body
refractive globe.

A project requiring only a building permit;

Public schools; and

Municipal street lights.
 All non-residential, non-cutoff fixture
open-bottom lights shall be equipped with
full cutoff fixture shields that eliminate
glare and up light.
Temporary Lighting Permit:
Lighting for vehicular canopies:

Areas under a vehicular canopy shall have
a maximum point of horizontal luminance
of twenty-four (24) foot candles (FC).

Areas outside the vehicular canopy shall
be regulated by the above standards.

Lighting under vehicular canopies shall be
designed so as not to create glare off-site.
Acceptable methods are listed in LDC
Section 7.17.03.D.
Lighting of Buildings and Landscaping:
Lighting fixtures shall be selected, located,
aimed, and shielded so that direct illumination
is focused exclusively on the building facade,
plantings, and other intended site features and
away from adjoining properties and all street
right-of-ways; and generate no off-site glare.
Temporary outdoor lighting permits for search
lights and laser lights may be issued for special
events, construction activities, or temporary outdoor lighting needs for public assembly or public
safety so long as the outdoor lighting does not
create a potential distraction, flash blindness,
vision impairment, or visual interference for aircraft pilots or navigators and would not cause a
potential unreasonable risk for flight safety or
interfere with any public or military airport operation or with ground activities at military installations. A temporary outdoor lighting permit
may be issued for one premises or multipleoccupancy complex for a period not to exceed
thirty (30) consecutive or non consecutive calendar days per year. Not more than five (5) temporary permits shall be issued for any one calendar day. If there are more than five (5) applications or application extensions for the same calendar day or days then five shall be selected randomly.
Outdoor
Lighting
Standards
CITY OF DESTIN
COMMUNITY DEVELOPMENT
DEPARTMENT
Physical Address:
4100 Indian Bayou Trail
Mailing Address:
4200 Indian Bayou Trail
Destin, FL 32541
Phone: (850) 837-4242
Fax: (850) 650-0693
E-mail: lbeat@cityofdestin.com
WHY A LIGHTING ORDINANCE?
The Destin City Council finds that an
excessive amount of outdoor lighting creates
glare, visual clutter and urban sky glow
which can distract the attention of
motorists, posing a significant risk to public
safety. The impact of light trespass onto
adjacent private property increasingly
represents a public nuisance. As a result of
those findings and complaints received from
Destin residents, the City Council
determined it was important for the City to
have clear standards for outside artificial
lighting and on December 20, 2010 adopted
Ordinance 10-09-LC.
The Council
subsequently adopted additional lighting
standards pertaining to search lights and
laser lights on September 19, 2011 via
Ordinance 11-06-LC.
The adopted standards are intended to
reduce the problems associated with
improperly designed and installed outdoor
lighting. These problems include glare,
light trespass, and the energy and financial
costs of outdoor lighting. To correct such
problems, the regulations limit the area
that certain kinds of outdoor-lighting
fixtures can illuminate and limit the total
allowable illumination of lots located
within the City of Destin. All business,
multi-family residential, and community
outdoor lighting should be installed with
the idea of being a "good neighbor", with
the intent to keep unnecessary direct light
from shining onto abutting properties or
streets.
No off-site illumination:
Unless
otherwise specified, the maximum light
level shall be zero point two (0.2)
maintained foot candles at any property
line in a residential use area, or on a lot
occupied by a dwelling, congregate care or
OUTDOOR LIGHTING STANDARDS
congregate living structure, and no greater
than five (5) maintained foot candles at all
street right-of-ways.
Limitations on glare: No operation
or activity producing glare in excess
of the amounts permitted below:

All commercial and manufacturing
districts: Any operation or activity
producing glare shall be conducted so
that direct or indirect light from the
source shall not cause illumination in
excess of zero (0) foot candles when
measured at grade at the property line
with an adjacent residential use area.

All vertically mounted directional lights
(flood lights and spotlights) shall be
installed so that the fixture shall be
aimed down at least 45 degrees from
vertical, or the front of the fixture is
shielded so that no portion of the light
bulb extends below the bottom edge of
an external shield. Flood lights and
display lights shall be positioned so that
any such fixture located within 50 feet
of a public street right-of-way is
mounted and aimed perpendicular to
the right-of-way, with a side-to-side
horizontal aiming tolerance not to
exceed 15 degrees from perpendicular
to the right-of-way.

All horizontally mounted directional
lights (flood lights and spotlights)
emitting 1,000 or more lumens shall be
aimed at least 60 degrees down from
horizontal, or shielded such that the
main beam from the light source is not
visible from adjacent properties or the
public street right-of-way.

All wall pack fixtures shall be full
cutoff fixtures.
Lighting in parking lots and other
outdoor areas:

All light fixtures shall meet the
Illuminating Engineering Society of
North America (IESNA) definition of
cutoff fixtures.
Forward throw
fixtures are required within 25 feet of
all street right-of-ways. Alternatively,
directional fixtures (such as flood
lights) may be used provided they
shall be aimed and shielded in
accordance with this ordinance.

Other than flood lights, all outdoor
area and parking lot lighting fixtures
generating more than 2,000 lumens
shall be cutoff fixtures, or comply
with at least one of the exception
provisions in subsection (4) below.

For all new development and
redevelopment, the mounting height
of all outdoor lighting, except
outdoor sports field lighting and
outdoor performance area lighting,
shall not exceed sixteen (16) feet
above finished grade in residentially
zoned areas and in pedestrian use
areas; and shall be mounted as low as
possible, but not exceed (30) feet
above finished grade in nonresidential areas.
Electrical service for all new outdoor
lighting shall be installed underground.