Hillsboro Beach, FL Sea Turtle Lighting Ordinance

Hillsboro Beach, FL, US

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Type: Ordinance

Status: Adopted on 9/4/07

Source File: http://www.townofhillsborobeach.com/images/File/Turtle_Lighting_Letter__10-16-07_%5B1%5D.pdf

Text:

CHAPTER 12 – Land Development Regulations
DIVISION 5 – Zoning
ARTICLE XIV - Lighting Requirements For Marine Turtle Protection.

Sec. 1 Purpose and Intent. The purpose of this section is to reduce impacts of coastal lighting on the nesting and hatching of threatened and endangered sea turtles through restrictions, constraints and requirements to preserve and protect sea turtles and sea turtle habitats. The provisions of this section shall be effective within the incorporated areas of the Town of Hillsboro Beach, and shall apply to any coastal lighting that has the potential to adversely impact sea turtle within the Town limits.

Sec. 2 No lighting shall be installed maintained or illuminated on public or private property that would directly illuminate the beach from sunset to sunup during the sea turtle nesting period from March 1 through October 31 of each year. Property owners are responsible for ensuring that all lighting along the beach is controlled so as not to illuminate the beach from sunset to sunrise during this period.

Sec. 3 Measures to be employed by property owners for the installation, maintenance and control of all lighting in a direct line of sight of the beach, including interior lights visible from the beach through windows, shall be in accordance with the standards and guidelines contained in Chapter 62B-55 of the Florida Administrative Code and in Technical Report 97-06 of the Broward County Beach Lighting Management Plan which are hereby incorporated herein as may be amended from time to time. All site plans for new development and redevelopment along the beach shall be required to demonstrate that the proposed development or redevelopment will comply with this section by identifying the specific measures that will be employed to control lighting.

Sec. 4. For existing development along the beach, property owners shall be required to immediately implement measures not involving any capital expenditures, such as switching-off exterior lights that illuminate the beach and closing existing draperies to shield interior lights during the turtle nesting period. By August 1, 2008, property owners shall be required to implement all appropriate measures necessary to fully comply with the requirements of this section.

Sec. 5. Enforcement. Any person found to be in violation of this Code section shall be issued a Notice to Appear and shall appear at the prearranged Court date to answer the charge. A conviction for violation of this Section shall result in a fine up to five hundred dollars ($500.00) or imprisonment for a term not exceeding ninety (90) days, or by both such fine and imprisonment at the discretion of the judge.