Beachfront lighting information
Every May to October, female sea turtles come ashore on Volusia County beaches to nest, and thousands of hatchlings emerge from those nests
to make their way to the ocean. On a natural beach, sea turtles use celestial light and the darkened silhouette of the dunes and vegetation
to guide them toward the ocean. On beaches where artificial lighting is present, those lights can deter females from nesting and overwhelm
hatchlings, causing them to crawl in the wrong direction, also known as a disorientation. These events can expose hatchlings to predators,
drain their limited energy reserves, and lead them into dangerous areas such as roadways, stormwater drains, and parking lots.
To help protect sea turtles from artificial light, Volusia County developed a Beach Lighting Management Plan and works with oceanfront property owners to reduce artificial lighting along our beaches. The lighting ordinance applies during sea turtle nesting season which runs May 1 - October 31.
How can you help?
-Ensure your property has compliant lighting
-Limit the use of flashlights and cell phones on the beach at night - only use them when necessary (red light is best)
-Close blinds at night and limit the use of unnecessary lights
-Never handle hatchlings or approach nesting females; watch quietly from a respectful distance
Please see the documents and information provided below and contact our staff if you have any questions about beachfront lighting and sea turtles. For free educational materials about sea turtles and lighting, please visit the Beach and Wildlife Educational Material tab to the right.
- Sea Turtle Lighting - Please watch this short YouTube video for some important information about how artificial lighting impacts sea turtles, and what you can do to help.
- Beach Lighting Management Plan [PDF]
- Volusia County Lighting Ordinance [PDF]
- Sea Turtle Lighting Acknowledgment Form [PDF]
- Consumer Advisory for new doors and windows [PDF]
- Lighting tips and contacts [PDF]
- Reducing artificial lights for sea turtles [PDF]
- Coastal Roadway Lighting Manual [PDF]
- FWC disorientation dashboard (MyFWC.com Link)
- Lighting Regulations Flyer [PDF]
- Sea Turtles and Artificial Lighting: FAQ [PDF]
